Make battleships out of paper mache

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Paper mache has been a thing since the 15th Century known material. Masks, animals and mythical creatures as well as other artistic decorations were made from it. It is an art material that is easy to process. Paper mache is also used in children's groups, not least because it is a very inexpensive and versatile material for art objects. You can find out how to make battleships here.

This is what your battleship could look like.
This is what your battleship could look like. © Dieter Schütz / Pixelio

What you need:

  • Newspapers
  • Egg cartons
  • Wallpaper paste
  • Clove oil
  • vaseline
  • Poster colors
  • paint brush
  • Clear lacquer (water-based)
  • Baking pan for king cake
  • Laminated cardboard the size of the opening of the cake pan
  • Small pieces of laminated cardboard
  • Firm willow rod, thin
  • Wood glue
  • Secateurs
  • Fabric scissors
  • Leftover fabric from a white duvet cover or sheet

Fine or coarse - depending on the size of the object

  • You can create fine paper mache by using tiny snippets of newspaper. On the other hand, you make rough paper mache from roughly torn egg cartons. Depending on the size of your battleships, coarse or fine craft material is suitable. The masses are worked equally.
  • Cut the newspaper or egg cartons into the size you want and soak them in water overnight. The scraps of paper or cardboard should at least be well covered. Add one or two drops of clove oil - this spreads a pleasant scent and later keeps all kinds of vermin out of your battleships. In addition, the clove oil prevents the formation of mold.
  • Mix the paste in your own container, following the instructions on the paste packet. Use the information for the strongest hold.
  • Both masses are now mixed together and can be processed immediately.

The basic shape for the hull of your battleship

  1. Do not coat the rectangular cake pan too thickly with Vaseline. Now lay out the form with roughly torn newspaper snippets up to the top.
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  2. Now fill the mold with enough paper mache to cover the bottom about 2 cm and coat the sides with the mixture about the same thickness. Then set aside in a not too cool place.
  3. Brush the laminated cardboard piece with a layer of paper mache about 2 cm thick.
  4. Let both parts dry well. This may take up to 2 days.
  5. Carefully remove the body from the cake tin.
  6. Now coat the piece of cardboard again from the other side with a layer of paper mache and place it on the fuselage. Let dry well.
  7. Now put another 2 cm thick layer of paper mache on top of the piece of cardboard while it is still wet poke holes with the willow rod where you want to set your sails for the battleship afterwards. You do not have to pierce the laminated cardboard to do this, but it is recommended to go all the way to the laminate prick so that the total depth of 4 cm can later be used to glue in the sail pole can.

Make a battleship out of the hull

  1. Now make cannons with a tube from small laminated cardboard pieces. Glued-on straw parts of thick straws are suitable as tube parts. Cover this with a not-too-thick layer of paper mache. After drying, glue these cannons to your ship's hull.
  2. Now glue willow rods into the holes made for the sail poles. To do this, simply fill this with a little wood glue and make sure that the willow branches are used at right angles.
  3. Cut sails of the desired size from the sheet and attach them to the willow branches. You can also use the wood glue for this.
  4. Now all you have to do is paint your battleship and, if necessary, seal it with clear varnish after it has dried.

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