1) I recommend you use the Natural Texture Pack for full immersion. I exclusively build in this texture pack to give my builds a unique look and feel. Here is the Java Link.

2) I build in 1:1 scale, but building in this scale comes with limitations. Some areas may be distorted or compromised due to scale and sizing when building in 1:1. Compromises have to be made in order to complete the build. Some areas may not resemble the actual ship and in those circumstances, I have to fictionalize some aspects about the build to "balance out" the build or to allow player interaction. I fully recognize 1:1 is not a perfect scale to build in but I personally find 1:1 to be the sweet spot for me.

3) I don't build cabins, engine rooms, or crew spaces. The reason is there is little to no information on what some of these spaces actually looked like, so I'd rather not spend the time to build something that I don't have information on. There is dead space on my builds because I primarily focus on class accommodations (Lounges, Dining Rooms, etc) and tend to focus less on passenger corridors, cabins, crew spaces, etc.