Building A Ship In A Bottle.

Hello, Building a ship in a bottle was an old form of maritime art. Sailors of the past would often create things in their free time. They also did not have much room for big hobbies, and from this came old treasures such as scrimshaw carvings and ships in bottles.

I have not made one of these for twenty years. But I thought that this could make an interesting instructable. I also knew that I could use this opportunity to show my daughter how I used to make them. So I tried again, I was nervous that it wouldn’t turn out well. But I was pleasantly surprised.

To start with you need a bottle. The shape of the bottle will determine what type of ship you should build. A tall narrow bottle like this is best suited for a tall ship. A big square rigged clipper would not fit. But a topsail schooner fills the empty space inside the bottle nicely.

Step 1 The basic hull

I never used a kit. I just use blank pieces of wood that are available at craft stores, and begin with drawing a ship in the size and shape that I want to build. 

Holes are drilled through wood that will form the upper and lower parts of the hull. Toothpicks are then inserted into the holes to keep the wood properly aligned during the rest of the construction. Draw a rough outline on the stacked wood pieces. 

I don’t know how to put this any other way… And I’m not trying to be silly when I say… Now just sand away anything that doesn’t look like the boat you are trying to build. I started on a belt sander for the rough shape. Worked a little finer with a sanding drum on a Dremel tool, and finished with a piece of sandpaper. 

A quick look at the hull next to the bottle. You will be doing this A LOT!

You can see that the hull is already larger that the opening of the bottle. 

That’s why it is not built out of one solid piece of wood. 

Comments

[titanic765]

where did you get the giant tweezers

[goaly]

The tweezers came from a box of odds & ends that I bought at an estate sale. I got them years ago.

[schtipp]

I did another for my son, I continue to be greatful for this excellent instructable.

[Quiksilver2693]

Thats a geocaching travel bug in the picture right?

[schtipp]

yes, I like to go caching whenever I get the chance. I have the same screen name on there.

[goaly]

That is just incredible! Very, VERY well done!

[Jsquared24]

Aren't ships in bottles made by putting the pieces in th bottle, rather than making the ship outside the bottle and then putting the ship in ????

[goaly]

This instructable demonstrates the traditional method of putting a ship in a bottle. A few parts of the ship (such as the upper and lower halves of the hull) are assembled inside of the bottle, but the majority of the work is done outside.

[Jsquared24]

Oh, ok. Thanks for letting me know :)

[schtipp]

This instructable is outstanding. It convincedme to become a member. I had done a kit one once asa kid, but this method allows for a way nicer hull. I made one using this technique to use as a geocaching clue. Thank you for the awesome help.

[goaly]

I’m really glad that my instructable was helpful. I have to admit that your first ship looks better than the first one that I made. Well done!

[Alaap]

The ship itself is great
the detail is amazing
i know i will fail but i will try it this summer
can i use cardboard
thanx

[Alaap]

can i use bamboo

[goaly]

I don’t see why you could not use bamboo. The only reason I use basswood is because it is readily available in convenient sizes at the local hobby store.

[goaly]

If you want to try this, I would suggest that you first focus on learning the technique of getting the ship in the bottle. Do not worry about fine details. Start with a bottle with a little larger opening, and make your mast and bowsprits wider than they need to be… On you first try just focus on HOW to do it. Once you are comfortable with that, THEN focus more and more on the little details and making it LOOK good.

GOODLUCK!

[jeff-o]

Very cool. I always wondered how these were made. Thanks!

[maullove]

I've wanted to try and make one of these since I was little, thanks for the really easy to follow instructions!

[newbie314]

What is the type of wood being used?

[goaly]

I used Basswood.

[Honus]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[suh]

Thanks very much for taking the time to share this with everyone. It's beautiful!

[goaly]

Thanks again for your compliments! I am using this opportunity to answer 2 of the questions that I have been asked about the rigging. I wanted to use photos to help explain, and I was unable to do so when I replied to his message.

Question 5. I have (hopefully ) included a color coded picture (#1) of the rigging. Start from under the hull and work forward. In picture #2 you can see the holes that were drilled for the main rigging lines. The green dots are where the holes for the square topsail rigging will be drilled. These holes should have been drilled at the same time as the rest, but I forgot, and drilled them later.

Question 6. Picture #3 shows where the sails were glued. The sails are secured with a dab of glue to each other in the front of the boat, to a boom, or the nearby thread in the case of the top sail on the rear mast. This step is to just lock the sails into the proper position.

Thanks for looking at my instructable, and best of luck should you try to make one!

[ShadowedOne]

Fantastic Instructable! I've always been interested in how these are made and seeing all the steps so clearly laid out really solidified it all for me.

[twnorman]

Are you currently a member of the Ships in Bottles Assocation of America?
If not you may want to join the community of other builders. Anyone else that might be reading these comments may want to learn more as well. You can visit our official site at www.shipsinbottles.org. We put out a quarterly journal with full color pictures of various S.I.B. buillders and we have some extremely talented members. Join us if you want to learn more!

[Burnsides]

SUPER COOL.

[eman1]

damn awesome!! you rock man! :D

[stunami]

One of the most thorough instructables I've ever seen!

[Greenehouse]

Great job! Your attention to detail and photos make this a winner in my book. Thanks for sharing it.

[mclancer]

Great job on the ship and the Instructable.
I kind of knew how it was done but never have never seen it done.

[goaly]

Thank you for the very kind words. I am very pleased that you like this instructable. There were a few things I had forgotten since I made the last one years ago. If I were to do this one over again, I would add the painted detail to the sticks used for the mast and booms BEFORE they were assembled. I’m sure the lines would have been a lot straighter. I honestly got a little exited about making one of these again and I did get into a bit of a hurry.

If anyone has any questions about the process that I may have left out, please feel free to ask.

[jayeshshinai]

wow! In was always puzzled abt how this was made n assumed it to be very difficult..
But with ur instructable, uv changed the difficult part.
Wud hurt if it wudnt turn out perfect the first time.

[Wasagi]

Amazing! I have been looking for a detailed description on how to make a ship in a bottle, but I could never find one that I could figure out. But I understand this perfectly! Thank you!

[robbied]

Fantastic instructable. Nice clear photos and good explanations of the steps. If building the boat wasn't enough tiny detail, you could use a fine blade to scratch planks into the hull and the deck.
Well done

[theo67]

Great project. Good to see your techniques. I have done several in the past and each "bottler" has his own method. The real challenge though is to get the right bottle.

Problem now days is that with standardization of everything most modern bottles are not clear glass, have poorly proportioned necks and overall proportions. This limits the possibilities of getting things inside and in getting the right ship to fit most of the space.

I am still looking and drinking for more suitable bottles.

[9ale7]

amazed by the details !
Professional work!

[a1t2h9y1]

Great instructable! I've always wondered how this was done, and now I can try myself. All the details and the pictures were a great help :)

[caeric]

I will echo the comments already left:

- Never knew how it was done - mystery solved
- Never thought I could do this - Now I know I can't
- Great end product

- Wow!

Incredible instructable, very detailed and great pictures.

Thanks for showing us, the masses, a lost art!

[chichimus]

This a great instructable! thanks so much for posting. Lots of good info and photos. I need photos :)
Like several others, I may give this a shot myself.

[BrianHuntley]

Simply amazing. Thanks for the Instructable!

[aje127]

The ship in itself is very impressive, without putting it in a bottle. Your instructions are superb, but I still couldn't do it. However, now I want a ship in a bottle. I should have one, I was in the Navy for 10 years and now my son is.