Don’t forget your blow-up boxes! When I set up the board I always place the German, UK and Japanese Bombers(the largest pieces) on the respective blow-ups to save space. Also the UK, Germany, Japan and West Europe IC’s and AA guns go here as well. The only one I have a real problem with is The South Europe IC and AA gun: maybe you can just agree to leave the IC off, since it’s permanent anyway (unless you use scorched earth). Use the chips liberally–I always demand people turn in extra men for chips in between turns. Placing all ships at a N.E.-S.W. angle works surprisingly well to keep the edges sticking into adjacent spaces.
Ozone27