Explore

Create

Contests

Community

let's make

Login

share what you make >

Ship in a Bottle
Download See All

by awesomecreations Jump To 4 Steps Favorite

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

About This Instructable

762 views 7 favorites

Posted: Feb 12, 2013 License:

awesomecreations
Follow 22

Bio: I have always loved the feeling of finishing the construction of an object, and if I don't have something I need or want, I usually give it a go to build it from what I have. Usually, however, I look ...read more More by awesomecreations

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Tags: ship

in

bottle craft maritime art

aw esomecreations illusion sea

Show All 244 Images

Related
Building A Ship In A Bottle. by goaly

After finding this instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-A-Ship-In-A-Bottle/ , I decided to make my very own ship in a bottle. There are a few differences between not only the types of ships used, but also the construction methods. This step-by-step instructable is a little bit different to most, the first page being the entire construction of the ship and putting it into the bottle, and the following steps the changes from Goaly's original ship in a bottle instructable. I made it like this so that you can easily see what's different and still be able to see how it is made. Goaly's instructable was good enough and easy enough for me to follow that I was able to make a decent first-attempt at one of these, so I suggest you also use the link above to see everything I didn't write about here.

Pirate Paper Craft (EASY) by poofrabbit

Pirate Ship Modification by mr_snuffles

Step 1: The sails

Makedo Balloon Boat by makedo-able

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Sea Shell Armada by triumphman

See More

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Show All 12 Images

The sails differ from Goaly's instructable in that there are 13 sails instead of 6. Mine uses 6 "rectangular" sails, 6 "triangular" sails and one irregular quadrilateral. The (")s are there because the actual shapes you will cut have to look like fabric being pulled by ropes while catching the wind. My ship is basically a clipper, but most clippers have 3 masts instead of the 2 here. I didn't want to scale a real ship or add too much detail because this is my first ship in a bottle and I wanted it to be more simple. When attatching the booms to the masts, make them hinge with some thread. this is done in a similar way to a chain. Only use flexible glue for these hinging parts. After you have soaked the paper in coffee and drawn parallel pencil lines on it, look at some pictures of classic sailing ships and take note of how the rope structures within the sails look. bend the sails to their final shape after cutting them out (I recommend using some other paper to make stencils for your sails before this) Glue only the top edges of the sails to the horizontal booms on the masts. This is important for fitting the ship through the bottle neck. The staysails (the ones between the 2 masts) are only glued to a horizontal thread connected between both masts. Dummy threads are glued along the top side's edge. These are NOT glued to anything until the rest of the ship is fully "opened" inside the bottle. ___________ ( _~ )_>)\ \ I L ` )_>) \\ \_ _ I \== )_>)_\\\_ _!!I I L______/` / ( _*_*_*_*_*_*_* /

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Step 2: The bottle/base

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Show All 13 Images

The bottle I used was green at first because it was covered in some sort of paint or plastic layer. After a few hours with a scraper, it was clear. Instead of building the entire ship I wanted to build mine only above the waterline and have it on "water". I first just used acrylic paint to paint the ocean into the bottom of the bottle, but later realised that I wouldn't be able to pull the threads through the bowsprit and the ship would be in a concave ocean. To solve this issue I painted the ocean on a piece of foam rubber and glued a few more layers of foam rubber underneath to make it fit into the side of the bottle. A bit of white paint on the edges of the waves adds to the effect of scale. I then rolled the foam rubber into a tube and pushed it through the bottle neck. A blob of glue secures it. I would also suggest (especially if you used a round bottle) that you shape a block of wood into a base to be glued under the bottle. ___ eg: \ |

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

(Bottle) - > | | /__|

Step 3: The shrouds

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Show All 9 Images

I made my shrouds in a similar way to Goaly, but instead of making holes through the ship I decided to use a pin to make holes in the sides and glue clipped pins into the holes so that it would better resemble the system used on most ships like this. It also means that you use less thread for the shrouds. One of the key reasons for them on bottle-ships is that they prevent the tops of the masts from moving too far forward.

Step 4: Useful tips

open in browser PRO version
Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Show All 9 Images

Practice folding and unfolding the ship before you shove it into the bottle. To fix the skew sails and glue the bottom-ends to the booms, bend a piece of wire into a long "L" shape. Using a similar implement, glue some tissue paper around the bent part and dip it into paint for touchups. Plan your rigging carefully before adding glue. Don't add any glue to the top of the shrouds until the ship is otherwise complete.

Post Comment

awesomecreations (author) says:

Feb 13, 2013. 6:55 AM

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

20

I just had another idea about what to use as the "sea", If blue wax was heated up and poured into the side of the bottle it should fill up the space much better, then thick paint can be applied on top of that for additional colouring and waves. I used the foam rubber because A) I don't have any blue wax and B) I wanted a quick fix because I had already painted the "bottom" of the bottle and then I realised that the ship wouldn't fit properly.

awesomecreations (author) says:

Feb 13, 2013. 7:37 AM

20

Another idea! What if the ships from Age of Empires could be made and put into bottles to make a sort of fleet of ships in bottles for a shelf or something... --_ --_ --_ / _ --------- _ _-_--

- _-\ ========== | (|((((((((|) | ========== \ \ / / _-\ \ -- / / --_ _-\ || || / --_ _-|________| --_ (---__ ) (---__ ) (---__ ) |_______| '----'

HrdWodFlor says:

Feb 12, 2013. 4:02 PM

Reply

Wow. This is great! I have always wanted to do this. Amazing that it is your first one attempt. Keep it up.

awesomecreations (author) says: Thank you.

20

Feb 13, 2013. 6:29 AM

Reply

Satrek says:

Feb 12, 2013. 11:34 PM

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Reply

open in browser PRO version

pdfcrowd.com

I second (or third) the Wow! Amazing work, and awesome indeed.
9

awesomecreations (author) says: Thanks.

20

Feb 13, 2013. 6:29 AM

Reply

goaly says: WOW! My first try did not look anywhere near this good.
8

Feb 12, 2013. 5:26 PM

Reply

awesomecreations (author) says:

Feb 13, 2013. 6:28 AM

Reply

20

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. I was thinking of perhaps building a Dias Caravel or a Vasquo da Gama Galleon as they would be a bit more relevant to my country and city (I live in the "Cape of Storms" [Dias' name for it] later referred to as the Cape of Good Hope [Da Gama's name for it]. I read somewhere that there have been about 23 shipwrecks around here, the most famous/infamous being the legendary "Flying Dutchman."

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

About Us
Who We Are Advertise Contact Jobs Help

Find Us
Facebook Youtube Twitter Pinterest

Resources
For Teachers Artists in Residence Sponsorships Forums Answers

Mobile
Download our new apps for iOS and android!

Visit Our Store

Android

iOS

Go Pro Today

let's make

Terms of service | Privacy Policy | Mobile Site

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com