Hello, and apologies to Wm. Shakespeare.

I'm currently building U.S.S. Laffey DD-459. I'm debating whether or not to build her with or without blast bags on her 5" 38's. My primarily interest in using them is actually practical, since it will make it easier to mount the metal barrels I plan on using instead of the plastic ones in the kit. I've seen a number of photographs of Laffey while researching my build and she appears to have her blast bags around the time of her sinking.

Any thoughts on this issue? Also, would the blast bags be black, Navy Blue or Deck Blue?

Thanks in advance.

Bob