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How to Build a Ship Table

A beautiful and valuable model ship probably deserves its own display table. You can get fancy if you happen to have a work shop full of expensive woodworking tools. If you don't, you can still make something that fits the display base of your model precisely. You can get everything you need at your local home improvement store and do the whole project in a day or less.

Things You'll Need

Large T-square with ruler markings
Half a sheet of 3/4-inch AA birch plywood
3/4-by-2-inch birch or poplar solid planking
Miter box and saw
1-by-1-inch pine strip
Wood glue
Two spring clamps
Electric drill with adjustable countersink bit
Box of 1 1/2-inch No. 8 countersunk Phillips wood screws
No. 2 Phillips bit
2 90-degree miter angle clamps
4 unfinished screw-on table legs with brackets and hardware

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the base of your model platform with the T-square. If you do not have a flat base, make the table top about a foot longer and wider than the model to make it stable.
- 2
  Mark the table top dimensions into a rectangle on the plywood, using the T-square to keep the corners at exactly 90 degrees. Have someone in the lumber department rough-cut the piece for you.
- 3
  Cut two pieces of 1-by-1-inch strip 6 inches shorter than the length of the plywood, using the miter saw. Cut two pieces 6 inches shorter than the width, as well.
- 4
  Glue and align the strips flush with the edges of their matching plywood sides one at a time and clamp, 3 inches from each end. Set the countersink bit to 1 1/4 inch deep. Drill holes through the strip and into the bottom of the plywood, 1 inch from each strip end and about every 3 inches in between. Insert 1 1/2-inch screws and tighten with the Phillips bit in the drill.
- 5
  Set hardwood planking on its edge inside the miter box to cut 45-degree angles at each end. The plank angles will meet and form 90-degree corners around the points of the table top. The short side of each finished plank must measure the same as the edge of plywood to which it will attach.
- 6
  Glue and clamp the 45-degree angles of a side and an end piece together with the 90-degree angle clamp. Repeat at the other end of the side piece. Allow it to dry overnight. Glue and clamp the remaining side to the other end of the end pieces. Allow it to dry.
- 7
  Apply glue sparsely around the inside of the hardwood rectangle. Lay plywood top-down, strips-up on a perfectly flat surface. Lay the hardwood rectangle around the top and push down flush. Drill screw holes through the stripping and into the hardwood from the inside out every 3 inches. Insert screws.
- 8
  Slide square brackets for the legs into the corners under the table. Use supplied screws to fasten them in place. Screw in the legs.

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