Previous, for reference historical purposes.
Well, this is my first drawing really here, and I was wondering what you all thing. It's very rough, still quite incomplete, but I figured that, after spending 3 days on it roughly, it was time to put it up and get some feedback, before I get too far ahead of myself, only to find that it's pretty terrible.
It's for an AU/Alternative History piece I'm writing at the moment, and I expect, as I develop that world, more will come from this Federated Austria-Hungary.
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The below is my to-do list, along with various other notes:
I've still got to figure out the forward superstructure. I have a few ideas, and plenty of references, but I'd love to hear what everyone else's thoughts about it are on it.
I've got twin concerns, regarding both armament and propulsion.
First, regarding armament, since this will segue into the propulsion. I worry that, looking at my design, I am too heavily armed, and my weaponry is a little too varied (at least 5 different guns, by my count). Would this be considered the norm, too many, too few, by the standards of the time, that is a Predreadnought, designed circa 1902/03 and launched somewhere just after Dreadnought, c1906 or early 1907?
Are the 24cm guns that are on this vessel too much, too little, ahead or behind their times, etc etc? Is the turret design itself a little too antiquated for the time period?
That said, on to the propulsion question: Given the density of guns for the broadside...all those guns would need magazine space. How feasible would it be to have sufficient magazine space for all those guns AND still have an engine sufficiently large enough to power this vessel? I'm thinking it's unlikely at best...where would you take guns away? I'm thinking pulling the triple casemates in the middle of the gun belt out. I'd be rather not move the 4.7cms, if only because there simply is
Bow Design: To stylistic? Likely not good for Atlantic, but certainly sufficient for Adriatic, and likely Med too, right?
Dead space between the funnels: what to do with them? Paired mountings of 3.7cm ATB guns on superstructure above stern- and stem-most casemate pairs
Decoratives:
Thoughts on various decorative elements to spruce things up a little, aside from the flag? I plan on putting a railing around the edges, of course...and likely fill the dead space between the paired stacks with lifeboats, a winch, things of that nature.
Concerns:
Just one at the moment. I'm worried that currently, the silhouette, layout, etc, all make it look like an over-armed ocean liner or a very poor Q-ship more than anything. Thoughts on that, and if you agree, how you'd add a little more to it?
