Building a pirate ship tutorial

Ahoy, me Hearties!  Avast ye.

Pirate Parrot PJ and his new pirate ship

What a gorgeous day it has been today. Hot though.  Thinking we are in for a very long and very hot summer.  Weird, as we had a really warm end of winter. Nice though.  It's Tuesday evening, November 25, 2013, home from work, and now time for play.

Well, Parrot PJ's pirate ship has been on my mind, and so construction has begun.  Thought I would keep a record of the steps, to make it easy for next time and of course, for you to create your own one.  

I was so impressed with the ship that is shown on Molly Moo's site, that I have used that pattern template - to begin with.  Thank you very much Molly Moo.  Am sure as this one evolves, there will be some differences.  That is why I love working with cardboard, sometimes things just develop as they go along.

Oh, and listen to that PJ parrot, prattle on....   He certainly does like to have his say... apologies there

Ahoy, me Hearties.  Is pirate parrot talk, for hello my friends.

Avast ye...   that means  stop and check this out - or -  pay attention.  .

So, down to business....   

When working with cardboard, where possible lay your pattern on the long groove runs that you see in the cardboard.  This give greater strength.

Basic Items required
Cardboard box
Good cutting knife 
- check out a Fiskars finger knife. Brilliant
Paper mache  
- paper and paste  or gummed paper
PVA Glue
Paint
Dowel or chopstick for masts
Cloth for sails

Ship pattern on cardboard for cutting

Step 1
Cut out the basic ship pieces.  Leave the seats until later, after basic construction complete, to get best size fit.  Photo time...

Cardboard cut out.  Carpet survives... only just

Hull now constructed.

Step 2.  Tape the sides to the base.  Gently ease in the curve of the ship sides.  Attach the stern. (Nautical term, the stern, or the back of the ship). 

I then cut a piece to cover the stern area, along with a second one, for good reinforcement, and a further one to close it in. I have seen some boats that managed to use this stern area, as a little storage area... may do that on my next one.

 Step 3.  Having covered in the ship's hull, and closed in the stern area, with my favourite new 'easy way' by using gummed tape.  It does not have a shiny surface, it looks exactly like the cardboard.  Easy to paint over.  Paper mache is the other method. I frequently use the paper mache method, but for thisproject I went with the gummed tape.  Gives the same good strength to the ship, as paper mache would do.

I was then able to measure the 2 seats, and I made a little box with a strip of cardboard and put about 12 squares of cardboard glued together, as a support for the mast.  

Before gluing together, I used my knife to begin a hole for the mast, by going all the way through to the bottom square.  Glued, left to dry. This will sit, under the middle of the first seat toward the bow - the front part of a ship (pronounced like bough or cow - not the tie a bow in my hair... lol) - 
You can see below, the approximate area that I am going to put the support for the mast. The next picture, you can just see it peeping out.

These two pics, give an indication of the size of the ship.  I have shown the sizes, length, width and height of the ship, with the pen there for added size appreciation.  I think it is a really good size.  Not too big, not to small and fiddly.

So, construction is well under way.  Wont be getting much done on the ship tonight, as the blog has taken up a fair bit of time.  New to blogging, so more new learning...  ahhh never a dull moment....

Do hope the details given above will give you an insight into the construction, and get you enthused, to get on with making one yourself.  

This one is for the little boy that I made the Pirate Collection for, and I also have to get busy, as I am making a further 6 sets, to go under the christmas tree at our local children's hospital.  Busy times... but great fun.  I know I get so much fun out of creating and making all these different pirate goodies.  Just love it.  No two items ever come out quite the same.

Further steps in this tutorial will follow in the next day or so.

So, from PJ parrot...  and myself, see you all soon, and look forward to your comments.