that is an really interesting design. during WW1, most ships had forwardfiring and/or broadsidefiring as the most important thing. yours seems to be focussing on firing over the stern..... is there an special reason for that?

Your bow is very flat. I prefer a curve, but each to their own. (As is your aft or whatever its called)
Searchlights... the bask of your upper superstructure?

1. The Basic Design: I'm 80-90% happy with the overall impression but it doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. And there are a few aspects of the design that I'm less happy with- I won't say which as I would be interested to see if other people pick up on them!

2. The Rigging: Obviously there isn't any. I tried adding some lines from the fighting top to the bow and stern, but they just looked amateurish so I removed them. Now I've stared at picture after picture of real ships of the period, but because I'm not entirely sure I understand the purpose of all those lines, I'm finding it hard to work out what I need. So I'm really hoping someone here can help...

3. The Details: I refuse to add detailing just for sake of adding detailing and so have only included what I feel is needed for the ship to function. Have I missed anything important? I would definitely like to include searchlights but can't find all that many obvious places for them, given that topside space is going to be tight in an undersized ship like this.

I do mean there. Those platforms, one could easily hold a searchlight. Don't put it too high though.

It seems very blocky.

It's mostly radio aerials and a place to put signal flags.

Searchlights are an absolute must, since at the time they and starshells were the only means of conducting night combat.

As for detailing, there doesn't seem to be any way of entering the ship from deck level.

You're also going to need ventilation points for the engine and accommodation spaces.

A capstan on the quarterdeck wouldn't be a bad idea.

Some deck lockers for various equipment like damage control gear or even deck swaps wouldn't be out of place either. Drainage pipes from the platforms. Boat handling gear (dinghy booms, ladders etc)

Edit: I should also point out that getting the same speed as contemporary dreadnoughts isn't going to be easy, if possible at all. The natural speed for this hull is much lower than other contemporary dreadnoughts because its a whole lot shorter and you don't have anywhere near the same amount of space for engines and boilers.

The hull? The superstructure? Both? I suppose I'm less confident when it comes to building in curves!

I will see about altering the stern, at least though.

I'm not sure what sort of aerials would be needed back in 1911, though...

Actually there are three entry points...unfortunately I had to put the ships boats in front of them.

Speaking of which, do I need both boats, or can I get away with just the rearmost?

On the deck, yes?

That was my gut feeling too. But I calculated the design using Springsharp and apparently it does work...

Now the cynic that lives in me always wonders about the plausibility of programs like this, but as I lack the specialised expertise to judge whether the figures are accurate or not, I'm forced to accept them with a resigned shrug (at least until I have better information to go by).