As promised here's the boat crane from BB-55:
Thank you very much,
The 5"/54 mounts envisioned for this class (the Mark 41 mount) would not have resembled 5"/38 dual mounts (at least in my opinion). I can't find any schematics (real or otherwise) for the 5"/54 Mark 41 dual gun mount - but there's plenty available for the single Mark 39 mount (as used ultimately only aboard the Midway-class carriers).
The NavWeaps page is a good place to start, and here's the
HNSA Gun Mount and Turret Catalogue entry for the Mark 39 single mount. I think in practice a dual mount would just look very similar to the single mount (at least a side elevation view as required by Shipbucket). Unsurprisingly I can't find any official entries for the Mk.41 mount (probably because it was never actually in service). The 5"/54 gun mount has a very distinctive "beveled" upper aft edge which I think should be reflected in the drawing.
You raised a fair and valid point, so I think I'll craft a 5"/54 Mk-41 fromthe Mk.39 just as i crafted from the 5"/38, this surely for the 1945 and 1948 versions. As for the 1941/1943 plans I might do too although I'm a bit undecided as I'm trying to stick exactly on what the offical models showed. Although it is pretty, and highly, possible that the fact the mounts seen on those models resembled the standard 5"/38 was just motivated by the fact that the actual 5"/54 mounts had not been finalized yet, and those on the models were pretty much like "placeholders".
Use the front-facing drawings on the beam-mounted Mk.37 directors! I drew those for a reason!
:p
In the making!
I think it's very difficult to imagine this ship reaching any stage of completion without receiving an enclosed catwalk around the middle of the fire control tower, probably at the 07 or 08 level above the main deck.
This is reflected in the 1945 and 1948 drawings, as I was saying, at least for the 1941/1943 drawings I want to stick as close as possible to what the offical USN models of the Montana Class showed. The 1948 reflects the most plausible fit at completion (with commissioning after the end of WWII like the Des Moines CAs, as a consequence of the priority given to CV constructions), the 1945 is the most "what if" of the five, showing Montana commissioned by mid 1945 with constructon stared by mid 1942 as initially planned sporting the "classic" suite of 40mm bofors and 20mm orelikons, much like as she is usually shown in every BB-67 model shown around the web.
That's all I have for now (it's midnight and I'm exhausted from moving stuff all day). Hopefully later in the week I can make a more detailed group of suggestions!
Thanks, I'll wait
Also, I take the opportunitiy to land the 1945 and 1948 WIPs too.