IMHO painting ships is really boring (i'm sorry naval gamers), ManO'War vessels are boring to paint, but the Dreadfleet ones are even worse.
The models are really cool, I really like them, I painted the helldenhammer and took me ages (i'm a really slow painter) until the point to be downhearted to paint the rest, someday i should finish that box.
The idea to alternate each ship with something else sounds like a good advice.