Shipbucket

wonder how she might have looked like as an modernized vessel during WW2. or in British hands!

I doubt they'd get massive refits like Tennessee, California, and West Virginia unless they were heavily damaged at some point but more modest upgrades like Colorado and Maryland would make sense.

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The New Wolf's Shipyard
The New Wolf's Shipyard Forum

It looks pretty cool. However, I seriously doubt the aft funnel base is wide enough to support a 50' personnel boat without an outrigger/platform beneath it. Since it was custom within the U.S. Navy to double stack boats, I'd suggest moving that boat down to rest on supports directly above the amidships 50-footer. Also, since she'd be a flagship, you can with certain advantage make a personal paint scheme for that one, since it'd be the admiral's "barge"! Look at my Topeka for instance for a sample! Also, I don't see any 26" whalers, for instance on davits anywhere. A ship this size would undoubtedly carry them.

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My Avatar:Петр Алексеевич Безобразов (Petr Alekseevich Bezobrazov), Вице-адмирал , царская ВМФ России(1845-1906) - I sign my drawings as Ari Saarinen

What sort of measure do you think she would have had in the 40s?

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/warship_camouflage.htm

Measure 1 is a good bet for the start of the war

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The New Wolf's Shipyard
The New Wolf's Shipyard Forum

I agree with CanisD. However, not the white tops of the USS Louisville! That picture (which is not dated) must've been taken sometimes during 1940/1941, before Pearl Harbor, due to her retaining her aft tripod virtually unchanged.
Also I devised a further camouflage: a false bow wave, which was used by several cruisers, during the time period of Pearl Harbor/ early 1942. If I find the image on which it is applied I'll link that page for your reference. Furthermore, since most, if not all of your bridge windows would've been removable, through being in frames with rubber sealing, and with thin metal dividers (members) between them, to hold them in place, you may remove some or all, and open up from combat readiness conditions.

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My Avatar:Петр Алексеевич Безобразов (Petr Alekseevich Bezobrazov), Вице-адмирал , царская ВМФ России(1845-1906) - I sign my drawings as Ari Saarinen

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3323&start=30

There's the link! The hull color might not be entirely up to snuff; if you can improve on it, knowck yourself out! But the false bow wave, I believe would add poise and presence to your ship. In Syzmo's rendition there are additional useful clues, for instance on probable AA-armament, stacking of ships' boats etc.
Hope you find it useful!

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My Avatar:Петр Алексеевич Безобразов (Petr Alekseevich Bezobrazov), Вице-адмирал , царская ВМФ России(1845-1906) - I sign my drawings as Ari Saarinen

Useful clues that Bezo kindly added for me himself because I couldn't get it right.

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Ahhh...potatoe - potato....you were the original artist, Syzmo! I just fiddled around with your drawing...

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My Avatar:Петр Алексеевич Безобразов (Petr Alekseevich Bezobrazov), Вице-адмирал , царская ВМФ России(1845-1906) - I sign my drawings as Ari Saarinen

Should she be treated as a cruiser, or more like a battleship? If the latter, I don`t think a false bow wave should be painted there.