Back in the day, there were work boats that had plenty of brass showing on them. Whether they were rails of portholes or whatever. I am sure the crew hated spending the time to polish, but they were paid to do so. The Lackawana, a turn of the century, coal fired, steam tug, was painted white to show the clean burning qualities of the coal the company sold.
Immediately after the signing of surrender by the Japanese, US capital ships holystoned their camouflaged decks to bare teak.
All that said, do as you like. It will look greaat and unless someone has a photo to prove otherwise, she was so....Beautiful build BTY.