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Two simple questions:

Do you paint then assemble your models or do you assemble then paint? Bit of both depending on model maybe?

Why do you do it the way you do it?

I've just started with pinning items to dowels. It really helps with getting everything and not missing any parts of the model. Also, it really helps for access to the interior parts so that you don't have stuff that is unpainted or sloppy due to being unable to reach it with a normal brush.

I recently had a REALLY bad experience where when I went back to paint my Ravenwing squadron, three of the bikes had been pre-assembled (the Dark Vengeance box set trio) for play and when it came to painting them, they were a pain in the rear end. Getting under the backpacks (especially for the sergeant's robe) was ridiculous. It was so slow to paint because I had to constantly fix up errors. I was not able to get properly to the forks that attach the front wheel to the frame and ended up leaving them back.

There are some basic stuff you can preassemble. Shoulderpads to marine arms, guns into one hand. But do your best not to cover anything.

I use a size 2 brush for most everything so the bristles aren't that small when out in a tip.

This is how I'm planning on doing it in the future, with each major piece separate.

Spoilered for image:

I tried painting separately on infantry models once, and it didn't go too well. For me, anything past a 30mm size base should be painted separately if it's large like a Terminator or a Warjack. If it's under 30mm then it should be completely assembled. It also depends on whether or not you're doing show models. If you are, then it should be separate so you have the best possible detail. If not, then it should be assembled so you don't have to paint what nobody will see.

Sepearte, I like to paint all the areas in my models.

I paint my models fully unassembled because it is easier and more relaxing for me. Although the quality may suffer, it keeps painting a hobby rather than a chore for me.

I paint partially assembled. I only leave it unassembled if it would be irritating to get in under a glued piece. For example, for a marine holding a bolter in both hands, I don't glue the right arm at the shoulder.

But usually I have such an obsession with magnetization and one-handed weapon use that I can paint fully assembled without issues.

I've shifted on this. I used to always assemble first, but I would have problems reaching areas that are covered and really didn't ilke it. Then I started assembling partially, and leaving the covering bits off and painting those separately, so there's no areas that I can't hit.

Lately though, I've been assembling almost completely on smaller models and only keeping the most egregious parts separate for painting. I think this is mainly due to an upgrade in equipment - better brushes, better paints, more paints, more techniques (washes and drybrushing, etc), an airbrush... stuff like that just makes painting easier overall, regardless of stage of assembly.

When I do paint, usually in sub-assemblies. I try to work out through dry-fitting which parts will be hard to get at when fully assembled... admittedly this does mean I have areas that are painted that you can't see, but I know they're there!

Since I do alot of airbrushing I will try to paint assembled as much as possible for the sake of gradient matching all over the fig.

In some cases I will use blue gum to make the model stick together long enough for the airbrush, pull apart and continue piece by piece.

I paint in sub assemblies now. Makes it a lot easier to get a cleaner paint job for me.

I paint models while they are assembled, however, I'll probably paint my next few models on the sprue.

Sub-assemblies, for me, with the level of assembly depending on the model. For some models, it's the only way to get at all of the visible surfaces (e.g. Lootas). For others, it's a matter of convenience - I leave the loose arm and head off of AoBR Ork Boys when batch-painting, as it makes the process faster and easier, even though the sculpts are open enough that I could paint them fully assembled without sacrificing quality/completeness. I tend to fully assemble difficult builds, like Infinity troop models, first, though. When you're working with metal and many joints are too small to even pin, you'd never get them together without an insane amount of cleanup necessary. Luckily the dynamic poses generally leave the models pretty open to brush access.

Funnily enough I have just painted a mini that was part put together for the first time, I usually paint them complete and sometimes think this would have been so much easier to paint in sections!, then usually get carried away with glueing....

Prime and initial paint on the sprue (when I can) ..then partial assembly and some detail ..then final assembly, touch up, final detail, wash and coat ..

The above is my preferred method. Circumstances sometimes require me to paint an assembled model which is not my first choice..

I do both. I completely assemble and paint all the models for armies of Fantasy. Mainly because there are so many core units.

I pin then paint each individual part for 40K armies since I run small number elite squads.

I like the results of painting part by part but am satisfied with the results of complete assembly then paint.

I have only ever completely painted one army though so be careful how far down this rabbit hole you go.

Assembled.
If the brush can't access an area, it won't be visible.