Topic: Tsekoa II build (Read 952 times)

harrin · « **on:** October 20, 2025, 07:49:21 am »

Hi all

bought unstarted kit from my friend. This needs to be built and finished, so nice kit. Earlier have built two kits from Slipway (Drumbeat of Devon and Loyal tender) 10-20 years ago.

Plan is to finish her in Canadian coast guard colors. This is a family decision, they said I have enough grey boats :)

First photos.

harrin · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2025, 08:03:35 am »

Fitting bow thruster and rear deck.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2025, 11:12:52 pm »

Great to see people taking on ambitious projects, well done Harrin

harrin · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2025, 05:59:37 am »

Thanks Martin!

I was waiting for running hardware parts and meanwhile started working rear deck hatch and crane. Decided to build hydraulic cylinders from styrene to save some weight and make them adjustable.

Fred Ellis · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2025, 07:13:38 am »

Hi Harrin
I forgot to say that I posted on Model Slipways Builders group the Navigation and Channel buoy sets, they are under file.

harrin · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2025, 07:32:37 am »

I had those included in kit and actually built one of buoys already. Thanks anyway!

Dave_S. · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2025, 09:25:48 am »

Terve, Harrin! I bought a Tsekoa kit from Model Slipway in 2007 or 8 when I was living in Elimäki (near Kouvola) but life got in the way and it was sold to a friend (Seppo Hähl) who lived nearby when I moved back to the UK after 16 years of living in kaunis Suomi.

My interest in the Tsekoa still continues, and I bought one from someone on the south coast of England 2 or 3 years ago. It looked well made, but had been well used. I was able to contact the original builder, and it turned out to be David Metcalf of Model Slipway, so I need to tread very carefully with my restoration.

I will be following your build with interest.

harrin · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2025, 09:32:28 am »

Hi Dave! Do you know if Seppo built the kit or sold? Because I think this my kit is originally yours

I bought it from friend (Mikko P) who said he bought it from Kouvola...

JimG · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2025, 12:14:52 pm »

I built one of these many years ago and it proved to be a good sailer. I didn't fit a bow thruster but mixing the motor to the rudder made it very manouverable. Many builders have decried the white metal propellers provided but I fitted them after some cleaning up and they have proved to work well. Looking at the deck fitting it does look a bit low unless you are planning to file the freeing ports down to the deck level. I ended up having to cut hatches into the deck over the rudder posts as the original white metal fittings proved liable to slip under a heavier load, eg if the rudder was banged when out of the water, covers were just siliconed down over the deck to waterproof these.The original white metal fittings for the crane don't add enough extra weight to worry about and the jib will still be fully adjustable using them. I used a D sized NiCad pack for power and didn't need any ballast. 4Ah D cells was the standard high capacity battery at the time, modern high capacity NiMh packs will be lighter.
Jim

harrin · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2025, 12:44:15 pm »

Yes, at the moment I'm finishing freeing ports, will be flush with deck. About rudder hatch... I kind of forgot it

It's still doable, have to think about it.

hama · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2025, 07:47:14 pm »

Will follow this with great interest, have always liked the look of this vessel and Model Slipway seemed like a first class kit manufacturer.
I'm sure you'll make a very nice model of it.
All the best!
Hama

Fred Ellis · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2025, 10:36:34 am »

Hama
One thing to remember is on some the rudder post is on the long side, it was on my model so I had to cut it down to fit the deck, in the time I had to remake the rudders as the rudder post broke.

jaymac · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2025, 11:36:09 am »

they take a lot of water onboard

JimG · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2025, 12:09:32 pm »

Quote from: jaymac on October 22, 2025, 11:36:09 am

they take a lot of water onboard

Only if you sail in very rough water, I rarely had water in mine after sailing. If you make sure the rear deck hatch fits flush it holds out the water well.
JIm

Dave_S. · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2025, 02:17:24 pm »

Hei Harrin, I sold the boat to Seppo as I was moving back to the UK after 16 years. I haven't kept in touch with him, we knew each other as members of the model aeroplane club section of KILY. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the kit you have was originally mine, I don't think there any others in the Kouvola region.

I will be following your build, it is good to know that the kit has ended up in the right hands.

harrin · « **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2025, 05:46:33 pm »

Inside pic before rear deck was glued in place. In the middle is place for 2S 5Ah lipo battery, and underside of cradle is room for lead sheets if needed.

One buck converter is missing, it stopped working when connected to lipo. Waiting for replacement.

SteamboatPhil · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2025, 06:43:40 pm »

That is really nice installation

harrin · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2025, 07:53:50 pm »

Some final touch, decals, satin varnish needed before assembly.

Fred Ellis · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2025, 09:35:52 am »

Looking good, keep it up

harrin · « **Reply #19 on:** November 03, 2025, 08:42:38 am »

Decks installed and openings finished. Still some work in the bow.

harrin · « **Reply #20 on:** November 03, 2025, 08:45:07 am »

Receiver switch hidden under filler pond at stern deck.

Dave_S. · « **Reply #21 on:** November 03, 2025, 10:18:56 am »

Excellent work, and a useful reference for my restoration.
Kiitos!

harrin · « **Reply #22 on:** **Today** at 02:22:44 pm »

Thanks Dave!

Stern deck hatch and crane are about to be ready. Installing hydraulic hoses seemed to be most difficult part of this, but then took a cocktail stick and used it to open hose end. Much easier.

Installed a small magnet to deck opening and washer to hatch. Now it snaps in place nicely.

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Author Topic: Tsekoa II build (Read 952 times)