The priority for radar sets meant that warships were given the sets as a priority and the fitting on Aquitania was not before late 1941 but if anyone knows better, please let me know.
The black funnel tops seem to have been applied before the funnels were painted red (some of the photos with black tops do not have black bands round the funnels). The black tops appeared in late 1945,
The after well deck had been filled in in the late 1930s but parts of the infill had been removed before the end of the war and when the aftermost 20mm tubs were still present. This area was altered again during the 1948 refit when she was re-painted in full Cunard colours.
Deck guns. At the stern, the aerial photo taken in Australia with the Illustrious-class carrier on the other side of the quay, there appear to be gun barrels and shields under the edge of the next deck. If she had any guns forward, they would have been either side of and just infront of the foremast where the WW1 strengthened mounting points were. In the late 1930s, her boilers and engines had been upgraded to enable her to run a 24kt transatlantic schedule with QM and Berengaria and she could maintain 23kt throughout WW2. Speed was her best defence, not deck guns, so these may have been removed or never fitted during WW2.
I'd build it now and upgrade the model later if more information comes to light. Good luck Darren!
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