How to Make a Cardboard Ship With Sails and Plank

The plans are life size measuring 12 x 5 inches.

The plans are the basis for the construction of the ship.

You can right-click-save the image below for printing.

I used the following tools:

• #5 HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC HANDLE KNIFE with the #2 LARGE FINE POINT BLADE to cut the cardboard
• Dremel 100 Series rotary tool with 652 3/16" Straight Router Bit, 409 15/16" Cutting Wheel to create the holes for the mast and cut certain things.
• 12-inch metal ruler to cut straight lines with the x-acto knife
• Standard White craft glue
• Hot Melt Glue Gun and Glue Tube to glue the mast
• 2 Bristle Brushes ( 1" and 3/4" ) for painting the ship

I used the following materials:

• Corrugated Cardboard Box C Flute / 4mm that I found in the garage for the ship skeleton
• Construction Paper for the sails
• Paper Masking Tape to hold things together while the glue dries
• Newspaper for paper-macheing
• Straws / Shop Sticks for the mast
• And Acrylic Paint

Directions:
1. Print the life -size cardboard ship plan or re-size to create a smaller or bigger ship. It should scale proportionately. The plan is bigger than your normal size printer paper so it will print in multiple sheets and you will have to put them together.

2. Cut out each part of the ship and take note where each part goes.

3. Use the cut outs to glue on the cardboard / trace on the cardboard the different pieces. The lines on the pieces are for slot joining them with each other. Measure the thickness of the cardboard you will use and cut the joints accordingly ( I used 4mm thick so my joints were cut at that width ). SEE IMAGE Below ( visit HERE for more cardboard ideas )

4. Once you have all the cardboard pieces cut, put them together and
use paper masking tape to hold the top of the ship and the skeleton / sections.

5. Cut the sails from the construction paper. Say 5 x 5 inch, 8 x 8 inch, and 10 x 10 inch. Find a nice picture online, print it in 3 different sizes ( one for each sail ) and glue them in the center of your sails.

5. Cut the newspaper in 1 -2 inch strips and glue them along the sides of the ship. I made a 50 /50 mix of water and white glue out of one bottle glue to paper-mache-like to cover the whole ship.

6. Paint your ship. Mark the spots where the sticks holding the sails will stick in so that you can drill holes and stick them in ( be careful not to cut your fingers ).

Tips:

Use a hair dryer to speed up drying of the glue and paint. It speeds up the process considerably.

Use the dremmel cutting tool where needed to speed up the process.

Step 1: 1. Print the Life -size Cardboard Ship Plan or Re-size to Create a Smaller or Bigger Ship

1. Print the life -size cardboard ship plan or re-size to create a
smaller or bigger ship. It should scale proportionately. The plan is bigger than your normal size printer paper so it will print in multiple sheets and you will have to put them together.

Step 2: 2. Cut Out Each Part of the Ship and Take Note Where Each Part Goes.

2. Cut out each part of the ship and take note where each part goes.

Step 3: 3. Use the Cut Outs to Glue on the Cardboard / Trace on the Cardboard the Different Pieces.

3. Use the cut outs to glue on the cardboard / trace on the cardboard
the different pieces. The lines on the pieces are for slot joining them with each other. Measure the thickness of the cardboard you will use and cut the joints accordingly ( I used 4mm thick so my joints were cut at that width ). SEE IMAGE Below ( visit HERE for more cardboard ideas )

Step 4: 4. Once You Have All the Cardboard Pieces Cut, Put Them Together And

4. Once you have all the cardboard pieces cut, put them together and
use paper masking tape to hold the top of the ship and the skeleton / sections.

Step 5: 5. Cut the Sails From the Construction Paper

5. Cut the sails from the construction paper. Say 5 x 5 inch, 8 x 8
inch, and 10 x 10 inch. Find a nice picture online, print it in 3 different sizes ( one for each sail ) and glue them in the center of your sails.

5. Cut the newspaper in 1 -2 inch strips and glue them along the sides of the ship. I made a 50 /50 mix of water and white glue out of one bottle glue to paper-mache-like to cover the whole ship.

6. Paint your ship. Mark the spots where the sticks holding the sails will stick in so that you can drill holes and stick them in ( be careful not to cut your fingers ).