Making A Tabletop Noah's Ark

For the next several days we'll be step-by-stepping through the making of a tabletop Noah's Ark, similar to this one. I say similar, because I use no real plans. I use wood that is reclaimed or salvaged from various sources.

Start with a 1X8, and mark off the arks hull. This hull is 17 inches long X the width of the board. Cut the board to 17 inches. Cut the ends of the hull at 45 degrees.
Next, use 1/4 inch birch or popular plywood and mark the arks cabin ends. I'll not be supplying anymore measurements. I am sure you'll be able to approximate or come up with your own. When making the arks cabin, just be sure that you leave enough room on all cabin sides for the animals to stand on the arks hull. The arks cabin ends are exactly the same. Be sure to have the doors high enough so the tallest animals will fit through. The angle of the roof can be 45 degrees more or less.

Next we'll mark and cut the cabin sides. Then mark the windows, and prepare them for cutting. Since the cabin ends and sides are mirror images they can be stacked, nailed together, and each set cut at the same time. I use a scroll saw, so I drill a 1/2 inch hole in each window to insert the scroll saw blade.
The ark cabin ends and sides with the doors and windows cut out.

In the next post we'll mark and cut the roof, and cabin trim pieces.

Step-by-Step Simple Noah's Ark

Tomorrow (January 11) I will post the start of a step-by-step building of a simple table top Noah's Ark. I will be using a 3/4"x8"x17" board for the hull and 1/4" plywood for the ark cabin. All of this wood has been salvaged from building sites. I will try to use as many photos as possible. I will not be giving any dimensions for the pieces other than the hull. You will be able to determine the proportions from the photos.

Sunday School Noah's Ark Kit

I have made several of these Noah's Ark kits for Church Sunday Schools. The kit contains the disassembled pieces of the ark, dark storm clouds, lightening bolt, water, sun, rainbow, 18 pairs of animals, dove, Noah and wife, wooden pegs, small mallet, and a script.

The instructions start with the teacher reading the story. When the ark is to be built, it is held together with small wooden pegs that are inserted by the students. As the reading goes on, the students are asked to pair up and get their animals ready to board the ark. As the storm mounts, the clouds are added, the lightening is added, and the students put the animals (2 x 2) on/in the ark. The story continues and when the sun and rainbow are added, and the story in completed the students remove the animals 2X2.

Three Story Noah's Ark

Some times it's just fun to get carried away when making a toy Noah's Ark. Since I don't use plans, and shouldn't be in a hurry, I can get kinda lost in the build process. That's when it's super fun.

Traveler Noah's Arks

These two little Noah's Arks are "Travelers". This means they are meant to be taken by kids in the car on trips. The pairs of animals nest/fit into the ark case.

Hillbilly Noah's Ark!

Here's another rustic Ark that's kind of different. I named it the "Hillbilly" Ark. It's got only goats, bears, possums, skunks, fox, and other animals native to the North American Hills.

Small Noah's Arks

Two smaller Noah's Arks. Animals carved with the box cutter...