How to Make a Viking Ship Out of Wood

Carve the body of your Viking ship from balsa wood. Balsa is light and easy to shape. It also floats, so it is ideal for model ships. Use a reference photo and carve the long, curved dragon-head ornament typical to Viking ships. Make your ship about a foot in total length, and use the tip of a small carving knife to cut the details. Once you've got the outer portion shaped, cut the steps inside the boat to create the deck. Try to work from the ornamental design and cut the body of your ship as a single piece.

Cut 8 notches along each side of your ship for oars. Use natural round sticks, each about 6 inches long, to make the oars. You can buy round sticks at hobby and craft stores in various sizes. Use extra balsa wood to carve the oar tip for each of these sticks. Glue the tips onto the sticks. Set the oars aside to dry.

Paint craft sticks with brown and black acrylic paint to give the effect of lumber, then glue the craft sticks to the sides of your Viking ship.

Cut two or three squares of white cloth from an old sheet. These squares of cloth should be about 6 x 5 inches. They will be the sails for your ship.

Use 6-inch natural round sticks for your masts. Glue each one along the deck, then attach the sails to the mast with glue. Lace sewing thread up and down the mast and between the sails to create the rigging.

Finish your Viking ship by gluing the oars into the notches you created on the ship. Use acrylic paint to add Viking designs to your ship for authenticity.