Make a Paper Battleship

Paper crafts are a lot of fun. With a few proper folds and some creativity, you can turn a few sheets of paper into a make-believe battleship. Although the paper craft itself is quite simple to do, you can customize the appearance of your boat endlessly. Get the basic shape together, then feel free to go wild with your own creativity.

Steps

Folding a Paper Battleship

1. Choose a type of paper. Every crafts project should begin with thoughtfully choosing the materials you'll be using. What paper you choose to make your boat with will have a major impact on its use and function. Construction paper is arguably the most common paper for use in this project, as it's colourful and easy to work with. Newspaper is another good choice, as it is commonplace, folds well, and resists water.
   • A rectangular piece is needed for a boat-like length. Any size will do, although bigger sizes will increase the boat's floatability.
2. Stack two pieces of paper. Using more than one piece will improve the boat's stability and ability to float in the water. It will also make the craft heavier and more sturdy, which helps if you're trying to make your boat look like it's ready to go into battle. Stack identical sheets together and fold them as if they were one piece.
   • You can increase the stability of your boat by doubling the amount of paper from 2 to 4 sheets.
3. Fold your paper in half. Lay your paper out on a flat surface, and fold the length of it in half. Make sure that you have folded it in half evenly. Inaccurate folding at this early stage will botch the entire craft.
   • It helps to go over your fold thoroughly. Run your finger over the crease to press it down. You should try lining up the corners of the paper together to get a more precise fold.
4. Fold the corners into the center. Once you have folded your paper in half, reach for the top corners (facing horizontally) and pull them towards the center. This should result in two triangles meeting in the center, with a strip of uncovered paper at the bottom.
   • If you're having difficulty finding the center, make sure the corners are lining up evenly. If you're still having trouble, try measuring the paper with a ruler and draw a thin pencil line down the middle. This will give you a target to aim for.
5. Fold the bottom strips upward. If you're using multiple strips of paper, divide the layers of the bottom rectangular strip in two. Take each half and fold it upwards. From there, you should have the shape of a smaller triangle on top of the folded rectangles. Crease your fold and continue.
   • If your fold isn't creased smoothly, try smoothing them it out by running your finger along it, or pinching it with your finger and thumb.
6. Open up the bottom. Take the bottom rectangular flaps you folded upwards and pull them away from one another. This will open up the boat and turn it into a three-dimensional object. The boat should be pulled open by its wide corners. Be gentle as you pull it open, and make sure not to undo any of the folds you've creased.
   • You can complete this more easily by pulling open the body from the corners.
   • After opening the bottom it should take on a long diamond shape. If the shape doesn't look like this, it is likely your measurements were wrong at some point leading up to it.
7. Set your boat upright. Once you have completed the folds and opened it up, it's time to see how your boat has fared. Upright, the boat should take the form of a long pyramid, with a triangle tip (or sail) poking out from the top. Although it's not quite a battleship yet, with the folds all done, you'll be set to decorate it as you please.

Making a More Advanced Vessel

1. Begin with a large square piece of paper. If you're bored with the simple boat design and want to take your folding up a notch, you can begin making a more advance paper battleship by starting out with a large square of paper. The larger the piece of paper you're using, the more opportunity you'll have to add details and other pieces once the body is finished.
   • 1x1 feet is a good place to start if you're unsure what size you want.
2. Gate fold both sides of the square into the center. With the square facing towards you, take each half of the paper and pull it to the centre line of your square. If you're having difficulty with where the center should be, measure it out with a ruler and draw a thin line using a pencil.
   • One of these individual folds on either side is referred to as a valley fold. The two folds together comprise a gate fold. This is because the resulting folds should look like a gate that's ready to open up.
3. Turn the paper around and do another gate fold. Once you have your first gatefold complete it's time to do the same from another angle. Unfold the gatefold you originally made. Turn the square 90 degrees and pull the two new halves together to make a new "gate." Unfold once you're done.
4. Fold the square both ways diagonally. After unfolding two gate folds, you should have a grid with folds that make sixteen squares. From there, fold the square across diagonally in both directions, unfolding the paper after each time. These folds will become useful when it comes time to fold your battleship into shape.
5. Make two inside reverse folds. This is where your boat will begin to take form. Turn the paper over on its opposing face. Push the corners upward to make an upside-down pyramid. When you have accomplished this, take each of the four corners and fold them down. Turn the boat over when you have completed these folds. It's now ready for decorating.
   • When you have completed your inside reverse folds, you should have a square pyramid shape in the centre, with four arms jutting horizontally from the pyramid's corners.
   • The inside reverse fold is a potentially tricky fold to master in origami. It's worthwhile to figure out the individual fold before you move on with it in practice.

Presenting Your Boat

1. Glue on extra pieces. Whether you're making a full-on battleship or a little tugboat, almost all boats carry equipment. Radar, extra sails, cannons and top decks are a few ideas of things you might add to your vessel. Anything that cannot be drawn on directly should be added by gluing or taping light cardboard onto the top. Cut out pieces according to your idea and attach them gently to the boat. Make a point of keeping them centered on your boat.
   • Excess weight could result in your boat getting capsized if you want to make it seaworthy.
   • You can do this to any boat design, regardless how advanced or simple it is.
2. Draw on details. A great craft will come with the artist's added touches. Although you shouldn't try to make a realistic battleship with a paper craft, there is a world of potential difference made in fine details. Even if your boat is floating down the river, drawing on details like chassis studs, stern wear or even little crewmen will bring life to your creation.
3. Give your boat a waterproof coat. If you're planning on making your boat float, you should cover your boat in a water-based acrylic paint. On top of giving it a fresh sense of decor, the water resistance will keep your boat afloat for longer. A steely grey or silver is best if you're going for a realistic-looking craft.
   • Paint can be applied to the boat with a regular paintbrush. If you're trying to make smaller strokes on your boat and don't have precision toothbrushes available, an old toothbrush can be used for the same effect.
4. Paint different colors for the bottom and top. Most real-life ships are painted different colors: one color for the top, and another for the bottom. Although you could conceivably paint your ship as many colors as you like, a simple two-color pattern should be perfect for a crafts boat.
5. Launch it into the water. Although some boat builders may prefer to keep their boats as purely ornamental crafts, a paper boat with its bottom flaps opened will float on water for a time. If you want, you can fill up your bathtub and see how long yours remains afloat for. Taking your craft to a river or park lake will arguably make for a better photo op.
   • If you like competition, you and a friend should make your own boats. Place them in the water at the same time and see which one stays afloat the longest!
   • If you place your boat in the water, chances are it won't be saved for a second use. Luckily, craft boats are very easy to make, so you won't have to worry much if they're lost at sea.

Tips

• Use the back of your fingernail or a Popsicle stick to flatten the edges better.
• Take a picture of your boat before setting it loose in the water. If you're proud of the way it looks, it's good to get it immortalized before you risk it in the water.

Warnings

• If you're really proud of your creation, don't put it in the water. Putting it in the water will soak it up with water, and a lot of the drawn-on details may be lost in the process.

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Sources and Citations

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