I interpreted it as a continued design process just with a different hull substituted (from a spare civilian ship) as Argus started out as a design with twin bridges on each side like this design (but was changed during the building) hope that makes sense ?
The HMS Argus was converted from an Italian liner, and the conversion design was made by the same designer of the 1912 CV design.
Yes, but doesn't the flight article suggest that Argus was (started) as a conversion using this 1912 design but on an available hull (the Italian liner) ?
So you get the sequence as follows,
1) Beardmore suggests 1912 design,
2) RN says no (probably due to cost ?)
3) War starts (RN finds sea planes hard to operate at sea)
4) RN asks for a CV (it now has plenty of war time budget)
5) Beardmore modifies design to fit a hull it has available (Italian Liner stopped at start of war as time is short)
6) during building changes to reflect experience (ie do not fit twin island if you want to be able to land on it)
7 ) HMS Argus commissioned
(does that make sense, please tell me if you think I'm wrong ?)
PS does anybody have any 1914 float planes that I could borrow for this ?