Introduction: Float Your Soda Can Boat! DIY Sailing Ship Made From Soda Cans!

By Soda Can Models
About: FIVE time IPMS Award winner including Best of show award for 2013 LIFE SIZE soda can R2-D2 project. Our work featured in Fine Scale Modeler and Star Wars insider magazines. Some of our soda can creations have …

Several soda can crafters, soda can modeling enthusiasts and hobbyists recently reached out to us asking if we had a soda can boat or sailing ship available, or any videos on how to make a soda can boat. So, we decided we needed to make it happen! The one thing we noticed when we started this project was the lack of soda can ship videos, or how to make a soda can boat tutorials except for soda can sailing ships. So we modified some sailing ship templates found freely available on Pinterest, various crafting sites & the Wayback Machine, reworking them specifically to bring this soda can ship model to fruition! YouTube video: https://youtu.be/RUficJI0knc?si=OguZVuzk0vHzHQ1G


Supplies

To build this model, you will need the templates, which are freely available and linked in the description. You will also need a ruler, hobby knife, an ultra fine point marker, 5 inch precision scissors, a package of wooden dowels, bamboo skewers and your preferred brand of Super Glue gel.

Attachments

Step 1: Cut Out Main Hull

Use the templates provided to cut out the main hull as shown.

Step 2: Fold the Hull

Next, Fold the newly cut out hull piece in half as shown in the photo

Step 3: Install Hull Formers

Trace and cut out the middeck and rear hull formers. Install them inside of the main hull piece as shown

Step 4: Stern Former

Use the templates provided to trace and cut out the stern former. Install it on the rear of the hull piece as indicated

Step 5: Mid Deck Former

Trace and cut out the mid deck former. Glue the mid deck former into the center of the hull piece as shown.

Step 6: Prow Former

Use the templates provided to trace and cut out the prow former. Install the prow former on the front of the hull as shown

Step 7: Rear Deck Former

Trace and cut out out the rear deck former piece. Install the rear deck former on the hull near the stern former as indicated

Step 8: Main Deck

Use the templates provided to trace and cut out the front and rear main deck pieces. Glue them into position on the main hull as shown

Step 9: Prow

Trace and cut out the prow former then install it on the front of the main hull as indicated

Step 10: Display Stand

Use the templates provided to cut out and make the hull base. Also cut out two hull supports and glue them to either end of the base as shown.

Step 11: Rear Deck & Forecastle

Use the templates provided to trace and cut out the forecastle & rear deck pieces. Glue the forecastle and rear deck pieces into position on the main hull as indicated

Step 12: Rudder

Use the templates provided to cut out a left and right rudder piece and glue them together. Install the completed rudder on the rear of the stern as shown

Step 13: Captain's Balcony

Craft the Captain's balcony out of the templates provided and glue it into position on the rear of the hull as indicated

Step 14: Making the Masts

You will need a package of bamboo skewers and wooden dowels to complete this step. Use the templates provided to cut the main mast, foremast, bowsprit and Mizzen mast pieces to size and install them along with the crows nest as shown in the photos

Step 15: Sails and Rigging

Install the bowsprit sail, the foremast and main mast sails. Glue the Lateen sail into position. Then add the rigging pieces as shown to finish off you Spanish Galleon soda can model.