ORIGINAL: bruce88123
I'm like RCKen on this one. I like to get the plane fully assembled just like it is going to fly before doing any covering. This way you can also do the balancing easier without needing to cut holes in the covering. Also, sometimes when you install things you find structural changes that need to be made.All of this is easier if you don't need to worry about damaging the covering.
Ditto what Bruce and Ken said. Before I cover I've got the plane pretty much built and fully assembled. Saves things like drilling clear through the other side of something and punching a hole in that brand new covering!
It also lets me go back through the assembly a second time to double check that everything was done right.