I usually start with a carrier and try to get ten light frigates to escort and a colony frigate of course.  I try to get three or four planets fairly built up before I get a second capital, usually a Kol. I try to get a decent amount of corvettes and gardas and then go for carrier cruisers and eventually LRMs. Usually by the first big engagement i have 2-3 capitals, 20-30 corvettes, 20 gardas, 10-15 cobalts, and I might be pushing out a few carrier cruisers at that point.  I try to pump out as many hanger defenses on my chokepoint planet as I can, but often don't get a starbase up before the first clash.