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DEAD PERSON: I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN: What?
CUSTOMER: Nothing -- here's your nine pence.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN: Here -- he says he's not dead!
CUSTOMER: Yes, he is.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not!

This could be the release version of the Des Moines - the 3rd ship in the row. If it's okay, I'll post the stuff later this weekend. Please tell me honestly what you think - and yes I can take punches as long as it serves to improve things [:D]

Okay, here it is - and because it can't be me without changing things over and over again, it's different as in the comparative preview above - the bow section is different.






I've used existing bits and pieces of the original AE-art, namely the fire-control radars, the cones(?) for the forward and aft range-finders. The 5 inch turrets are taken from the Gearing DD's. The hull colour and shading/pixeling (whatever the correct term) is also from existing art done by Big B - no need to reinvent the wheel, and after all I think it should blend into existing art.

And here, after almost 3 damn months, the bmp's [;)]

While I don't see any way for a Des Moines class ship to complete in time for WWII operations - even as late
as the summer of 1946 - I served alongside the USS Newport News twice - once in the Atlantic Fleet and later
in Viet Nam. In that conflict, she set the all time record for heavy gunfire support per unit time. I forget the
numbers, but coming under fire by probably 152mm gun howitzers acting as shore batteries, she responded
with something like 254 heavy shells (8 inch and 5 inch) in five minutes - and silenced the battery! We -
in our aluminum superstructured destroyers - would run when under fire! What did Nelson say? "No sailor
but a fool" (would engage shore batteries). Unless you were on USS Newport News - or perhaps on USS New
Jersey!