US North Atlantic Squadron Extras

USS Guerriere and USS Ajax

I've added two more warships to my expanding 1/2400th scale North Atlantic Squadron c1870, the first being the Java class cruiser, USS Guerriere, and the second being the Canonicus class monitor, USS Ajax. The USS Guerriere is a very lightly adapted screw frigate, HMS Galatea, from the Tumbling Dice range, which is close enough to be a visual match once the strake is sanded down and the stern carved back. I will probably add one more screw frigate or a sloop to the squadron, possibly the USS Franklin, although the four funnel fast steam frigate USS Florida would be even better (assuming I can do a conversion or a scratch build?)

USS Ajax (front) USS Catskill (back)

The USS Ajax was originally intended to be a second Passaic class monitor but I miscalculated the length and it ended up a too long compared to my earlier cut and shut conversion. Instead of starting all over again, I decided to rearrange the position of the stack and add a steam pipe, to create a Canonicus class monitor instead. The base model is once again the USS Dictator from the Tumbling Dice range. The actual USS Ajax was attached to the North Atlantic Squadron in 1874-75 too, so it's a good addition to the fleet.

(in case you were wondering, they're not painted yet, just base coated)