Medieval Ship

Today we need only 6 hours to cross Atlantic by jet. But 5 centuries ago sailors did the same thing in 2.5 months. And it was without any communication with a land, without GPS, without any engine except sails! Heroic people! Sailor - is very difficult profession till now days. This cardboard ship model is not very detail - it is only impression. By watching it on your book shelve you can think about romantic past of Age of Discoveries.

Tools:

• PC+printer (for drawings printing);
• pencil;
• eraser;
• paper knife;
• awl;
• needle file (small rasp);
• scissors;
• needle;
• old wooden board (~ A4..A3 size) as a work plane for cutting operations;
• paper glue (a bit, may be you need it for some purpose)

Materials:

• cardboard sheets (6mm width) – 4 items (A4) or equivalent area;
• twine or thread (D=1..2 mm) – 1..2 m

The main idea of this construction is the same as in 3d-printers. We grow the shape layer by layer using plane cardboard elements of appropriate contours. As in real ship the base of our model is a keel. Keel part also includes all the masts. Each layer (deck) has slots to fix it on the keel.

It is possible to draw all sketches we need directly on cardboard sheets. But more convenient way (as I think) is to print all drawings on plain paper and then transfer it to cardboard using awl.

Use the next sequence to transfer all the drawings on cardboard: 1) put the cardboard on the old wooden board; 2) put the drawing on cardboard; 3) make holes in key vertexes through the paper using awl; 4) remove the paper drawing from the cardboard; 5) connect holes on the cardboard using ruler and pencil.

It took me about 1 hour to transfer all drawings (27 parts) to cardboard.

In fact it is the hardest and dirtiest stage. Use wooden board as a base and knife as a cutter to make all the elements out of cardboard.

It took me about 2 hours to cut all the parts (27 items) using simple paper knife.

Have a rest now! Assembling is very simple - string the decks on the keel one by one.

Make holes on sails and sail yards. Then connect sails and sail yards with twine or thread using needle.

Make holes on the hull plates and skip riggings through them. Then mount sail yards (with sails) and fix rigging on the masts and hull.

Mount the crow's nest on the top of the mainmast (similar way as hull assembling). Use two support-parts to set your model on a horizontal surface.

The medieval ship model is done. You can use different decoration elements (flags, symbols on sails etc.)

As any technical unit this model can be modified. Additional sail ("blind") under bowsprit helps to catch more wind without high masts.