Hope Mike will not be upset for not following entierely his suggestions about the 1945 fit.
No I'm not upset
(you do what you want, I'll only give you my opinion (supported by accurate pics/data with the aim of drawing the most realistic ship possible))
I heavily advise you to draw the following versions:
- The Scheme 3 (6 February 1940) with 5"/38 & north-carolina/iowa 127mm config, quads 28mm & single 0,5" MG's
- The Scheme 4 (14 February 1940) with 5"/54 & north-carolina/iowa 127mm config, quads 28mm & single 0,5" MG's
- The Scheme 8 (15 March 1940) with 5"/54 and the final twin 127mm config, quads 28mm & single 0,5" MG's
- maybe a mid/late 1940 config ?, with quads 28mm & single 0,5" MG's
- Mid 1941-mid 1942 (my favorite one, the final true/real studied design), with quads bofor, single 20mm oerlikons & few single 0,5" MG's
- Mid 1942-mid 1943
(simply with more AA guns, only 40mm & 20mm)
- 1945
(completed by june-december (even early 1946), if effectively "laid-down" by late 1942/early 1943 after the early May 1942 order)
- 1948
(if effectively "laid-down" by late 1943 if re-ordered by late 1942/early 1943 before the july 1943 cancelation)
Waiting your next full round (V4 ?) of drawings