IOWA class battleships: Keep or remove 16" gun turrets?

[seadude]

I think what I've settled on, at least model-wise anyway, is replacing the forward two 16" gun turrets with a new designed gun turret. I like this design I found and would love to have it 3D printed, but the design belongs to someone else, and I don't want to violate the person's "copyright".
http://fongsaunder.deviantart.com/art/Mk-XI-Small-Caliber-Railgun-144089231

As for the rear 16" gun turret, I was thinking of replacing that with a MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System). I could either scratchbuild a rocket launcher or buy and use either of the following which would get modified a bit to be more in scale (1/350).
https://www.shapeways.com/product/SX8X2XSU7/lrm-10-pepperbox-missile-launcher?optionId=19184982
https://www.shapeways.com/product/LRF7SXX9K/minotaur-missile-turrets?optionId=56078626

[proditor]

That turret is sexy!

I can vouch for Crazy Eddie's stuff, I have a ton of his star trek ships in 1/2500 and they look amazing, even in white plastic

[seadude]

For the Tsingtao-class BBN (which is essentially a nuclear-powered Montana).........

You say your ship is nuclear powered. But if that's so, then why did you still keep the vertical refueling derrick which I can still see in your pic? Did you intend to still have that so the ship could take on aviation fuel for the helos and/or other aircraft?

[Thorvic]

Oh Dear Seadude is going to like this :-

http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2017/Bilder_VH/Trumpeter_HobbyBoss_27.htm

HobbyBoss 1/350 USS Alaska Battlecruiser

[Joe C-P]

Oh Dear Seadude is going to like this :-

http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2017/Bilder_VH/Trumpeter_HobbyBoss_27.htm

HobbyBoss 1/350 USS Alaska Battlecruiser

Not just him!
Though I'll have a 1/700 due to the space requirements. USS Hawaii would have made a nice big platform for multiple missile systems, to go along with a missile-armed Illinois and Kentucky.

[scooter]

You say your ship is nuclear powered. But if that's so, then why did you still keep the vertical refueling derrick which I can still see in your pic? Did you intend to still have that so the ship could take on aviation fuel for the helos and/or other aircraft?

Yes.  Besides, its faster (relatively speaking) to take on more fuel during an UNREP in larger quantities than flying it over in slingloads during a VERTREP

[seadude]

Well, the refueling derrick on my eventual Iowa whif battleship model will be removed and I'll build a new one. The current one is too tall for my needs. I plan to have some sort of helicopter hangar in that space on either side of the aft deckhouse. On top of the roof will be a Seasparrow missile launcher on the port and starboard sides. But the refueling derrick has to go as it is too tall and interferes with the firing arc of the Seasparrow launcher.
I'm still looking for suitable main gun turret replacements for the kit's forward 16" gun turret positions, but have found nothing yet.     

[seadude]

Here's what I am planning so far for another what if Iowa battleship model. The design isn't finalised yet. There may be more changes in the future. Make sure to read the description that goes along with the pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/72147279@N06/32357469150/

[NARSES2]

Interesting ideas, you could almost see the ship developing that way over 20/30 years or so