Article is oriented toward 1/1200 or 1/1250 scale ships, but it also applies to any othre scale. Some history and some discussion about painting them. http://www.1250scale.com/Marine Modelling Revisited 26 USN Dreadnought Battleships.pdfhttp://www.1250scale.com/Marine Modelling Revisited 26 USN Dreadnought Battleships.pdf
This website is a great reference for USN paint schemes: Shipcamouflage.com - US Navy WWII Camouflage Measures