Introduction: Victorian Steam Launch

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This tiny steamboat was inspired by nineteenth-century river launches. I made a functional model that uses actual steam propulsion to go over water recycled materials like a repurposed milk carton and a soda can boiler.

To replicate the aesthetics of the era, the design incorporates Victorian-style elements such as a chimney, a classic blue white theme and a railing and gold details. This project, which blends historical inspiration with practical engineering, falls within the Victorian Era (1800–1899) category.

The cabin in the front can open to adjust the boiler, light the candle, etc. and the chimney is actually usefull as it is above the candle and can let the heat out!

Supplies

2 milk cartons

1 soda can

blue tack (a lot!!)

copper tubes (bendable)

wire (gold)

(spray) paint (white and dark blue)

tea light

glue gun

paper tape

duct tape

double sided tape

popsicle sticks

nano tape

whie paint marker

black paint marker

gold paint marker

paper

Step 1: Boiler

  1. cut out a 7 x 17 cm piece from the can
  2. cut out a 1 cm rim
  3. fold it over
  4. add blue tack around the edges
  5. fold the tab over
  6. add more blue tack around the edges
  7. squeze with some tweezers
  8. take your first tube (12 cm long) and roll in blue tack
  9. roll in the second tube
  10. attach a pen to your table (for a good bend) and bend the tubes to a 30 degree angle 3 cm away from the edge
  11. place them in the boiler and add more blue tack
  12. cut twice next to the tubes
  13. fold these tabs over and squeze with pliers
  14. place the boiler in some water and blow into the straws
  15. if there are bubbles, place some more blue tack and try again

You are now done with the hardest part!

Step 2: Boat

  1. cut your milk carton in half
  2. cut a hole about 9 cm from the edge
  3. place your tubes through and attach to the bottom with duct tape

Step 3: Closing Up

  1. cut out a 7 x 13 cm piece of cardstock (from milk carton)
  2. cut out a 5 x 6 cm window
  3. fold the window over
  4. take some more cardstock and make a 4 cm wide ring
  5. shape it to mimick the front of your boat
  6. attach the window to the inside of your cabin
  7. trace the cabin to make a roof
  8. take some more cardstock and roll it into the chimney
  9. make a hole in your roof and glue your chimney onto it
  10. glue everything onto the boat

Step 4: Assecories

The boat is basically done, all I did was add some decoration and a coat of paint to fit into the Victorian era:

  1. (spray) paint the boat black/dark blue
  2. (spray) paint the deck white
  3. (spray) paint the chimney red, glue a white and black strip of paper on
  4. cut small pieces of gold wire and glue them onto the side of the boat as a ladder
  5. take your popsicles and draw 3 evenly spaced lines on them
  6. glue them onto the deck
  7. take a big piece of wire and paint it white
  8. glue it onto the deck
  9. make some black tea
  10. dip a small piece of rope into the tea
  11. take some double sided tape and roll the rope onto it, glue onto the boat
  12. take some small pieces of nano tape, stack them, paint them brown with a sharpie and glue onto boat
  13. draw a ship company logo (v)
  14. add a little british flag
  15. write when your boat was "launched" at the back

Aaaaaaaaaaand youre done! Congratulations!🎉

Step 5: Using the Boat

Now that your ship is ready to depart, you need to fill it with its fuel:

  1. take a straw
  2. fill your mouth with water
  3. place the straw into one of the tubes at the bottom of the boat and blow water into it untill it comes out on the other side => your boiler is now filled!
  4. open up the front
  5. light the candle and place it under the boiler
  6. place your boat in the water and wait for a "popping" sound

And there she goes!