This is a harbor tugboat, built and operated in Italy. It is decommissioned.
Name of the tugboat: AKRAGAS
Gross tonnage: 213 tons
Year built: 1959
Builder: FINCANTIERI PALERMO - PALERMO, ITALY
Last known flag: ITALY
MODEL
The kit is from New Maquettes. The kit was designed to be a static kit and included two sheets of detailed plans, a parts list, other plastic and resin parts, metal parts and wire. All the wood in the kit had to be cut to build the model.
The model scale is 1/30 with the length 83 cm, and width 21 cm.
A lot of detail parts are cast resin or plastic.
The hull is built single plank on frame. After the planking was finished, I sanded it smooth and covered it with two layers of epoxy inside the hull to make it waterproof. The hull is painted black, the waterline white, and below the waterline rusty red. All decks are plywood. I cut, fitted, painted, and installed them.
The structure is precut wood. I built it using the plans. I painted each piece before installation.
I replaced the plastic propeller that came with the kit with a brass one.
Lots of detail parts were added such as fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing hoses, rubber tires, rope bow fenders and side fenders, and the wood grate in front of the cabin doors. The bow fender and side fenders are made of rope, and I dyed them using coffee and tea.
I painted the model using commercially available spray paints according to the suggested painting scheme.
To convert the kit to an R/C model, I installed a Robbe geared motor and installed a proportional speed controller and servo and rudder servo. A two- channel radio and 6V battery pack are needed to operate the tug. For the ballast, I used removable lead ingots.
I converted the navigation lights to working lights.
TUGBOAT
Builder : Scheepsbouwwerf de Nieuwe Maas N.V., Vlaarding. Netherlands
Year Built : 1910
Length : 23.5 meters (77.2 feet)
Beam : 5.25 meters (17.23 feet)
Draft : 2.6 meters (8.5 feet)
Tonnage : 52 GT
Engine : 2 Cylinder 230 hp coal fired steam engine, max speed 15kn
• Before she was sold to Turkish owners in 1952, she had 3 previous owners in the Netherlands.
• Previous owners, with year acquired, tugs name and city:
o 1910: FLORA G.C. Smit, Nijmegen /Netherlands.
o 1920: FRAM N.V. Sleepboot Fram, Rotterdam (m) Internationale Sleepdienst Mij N.V., Rotterdam /Netherlands .
o 1938: MARS IV N.V. Stoomsleepdienst Mars, Rotterdam /Netherlands.
• The tug was used as a general harbor tug, assisting larger ships into and out of the harbor at the Port of İstanbul, and pulling barges continuously until 1988
• She had sister tugs, the Ahirkapi and Kumkapi. They were built by the same builder in the Netherlands.
• This tug model is the Yenikapi tug which survived the other two tugboats.
• Eventually all three tugboats were scrapped.
• The crew consisted of one captain and two sailors.
• I had the opportunity to observe the Yenikapi in operation in Istanbul
MODEL
Kit is manufactured in Turkey by Tersane Model
The model is 1/24 scale.
Length: 82.5 cm (32.5 inches)
Width: 21 cm (8.3 inches)
Draft: 13 cm (5 inches)
•The kit was designed to be a static kit and included three sheets of detailed plans, a parts list, other plastic and resin parts, and a metal funnel and wire. All the wood in the kit was laser cut.
•The hull is wood plank on frame construction. The pilot cabin, utility cabins, doors and deck are wooden.
•The inside of the hull is coated with two layers of epoxy in order make the hull waterproof. •The outside the hull is coated with car body putty and sanded to a smooth finish.
•The model was painted using commercially available flat spray paint, with colors selected to match the tugboat paint scheme suggested in the plans.
•The funnel can be lowered to negotiate low bridges, and counterweights balance the funnel.
•Enhancements, modifications, and additions to the tugboat are as follows:
-Resin navigation lights, mast lights, davits, and ship’s bell have been replaced with high
detailed brass fixtures.
-The navigation and mast lights were converted to working lights.
-All the portholes have been replaced with Caldercraft brass portholes.
-All the doors can be opened and closed.
-Pilothouse and crew utility cabin have interior details.
-In the pilot house, in addition to the wheel, there are a compass, wall clock, and
telegram.
-In the crew utility cabin, there are a sink and bathroom commode which can be seen
when the door is open.
-Scupper lids with hinges were made and installed on the scuppers.
-To convert the model to a RC tugboat, the following material were purchased:
Brass propeller manufactured by Rivabo (installed on the model)
Propeller shaft (installed on the model)
Robbe geared motor (installed on the model)
Radio (2 channels required)
Receiver, servos (2 installed on the model)
6 V Battery
Dumas speed controller
Removable led ballast
