Hi RR8,
One way to do this would be to configure one IAP with required configuration and ship the other two in default state. At the local site, plug in the configured IAP first and this will become master VC. Once the others are up, they will get the desired configuration from the VC. This is only required for the first time you bring up the network. Once it is up, all IAPs will be synchronized with the configuration and image from that point on.
If you bring all three IAPs up at the same it, there is no guarantee which one will become the master since the election process is transparent to the user. You will not be able to control which one becomes the virtual controller.
All three IAPs will have to be in the same IP subnet.
I hope this answers your question.
Shashi