Ships are one of the most ancient forms of transportation in the world. Designed to move people and objects across vast distances, they have been used to discover new worlds. Even if they’re nowadays not the fastest means of transport anymore, they’re still incredibly common – especially for goods.
How cool would it be to build your own ship in a matter of few hours? Now you can, with your 3D printer! In this article, we’ve selected the most awesome models out there: not only decorative designs but also functional ships you can use to store small items that lie around your house or even incorporate into your tabletop gaming. As RC ships have gained popularity in the last few years, we couldn’t leave them out either.
If you see a model you like but your printer’s on a freight ship making its way across an ocean – or simply otherwise indisposed – give Craftcloud a try. Not only will you have access to a wide range of 3D printing technologies, materials, and finishes, but you’ll also receive a high quality print of your favorite ship delivered right to your doorstep.
Now, let’s dive into the best ship models out there!
Ship in a Bottle
How cool are ships in a bottle? If you’ve always desired one but didn’t have the patience to realize it, here’s the perfect solution for you.
First, you print this model in parts and assemble them – different colors would give it an awesome look. Then, you can insert your ship in your preferred bottle. There’s also a video guide about the assembly process, so it’ll be super easy to build it.
- Who designed it? PrintChallenge
- How printable/popular is it? With over 250 downloads, quite a few people have realized their dream of a ship in a bottle. Two of them have posted their makes, too!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Modular
If you’re into D&D, you’ll surely want to turn on your printer when you see this model. This designer designed and printed a modular ship because he couldn’t find a model that he liked for a D&D campaign. There are multiple sections, 25 files to be exact, you can choose from to customize your ship however you’d like.
- Who designed it? Snownova
- How printable/popular is it? Out of over 23,000 downloads, 9 makers have shared their prints – all customized in various shape and colors.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Titanic
If we’re talking about real ships, we can’t ignore the Titanic. It was one of the biggest ships ever built, the backdrop to an epic film with an unforgettable song, and the site of yet another another tragic event in 2023.
As it’s divided into pieces, you can easily print this model. It’s also really simple to add color to it by printing the parts in various shades. You will need some support, though. That being said, the designer has tried to optimize the model as much as possible to avoid unnecessary waste.
- Who designed it? Mao
- How printable/popular is it? With over 4,700 downloads, the Titanic still has quite a draw over people.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
USS St. Louis
It would be really difficult to find a more majestic ship than this one! It’s a replica of the USS St. Louis (C-20), a battleship with a storied past. This St. Louis model measures 80 centimeters! Fortunately, it prints without support.
According to the designer, you should use a 0.15-mm layer height with 15% infill for smaller parts, and for larger parts, 0.2-mm layer height with 10% infill. If you experience bed adhesion difficulties with the thinnest parts, they advise printing with a brim.
In addition to the files, a detailed assembly guide is included. You might need some glue to put the pieces together, so be prepared.
- Who designed it? WorldofWarships
- How printable/popular is it? 52 makers have shared their prints. It’s without a doubt one of the most appreciated ship models out there.
- Where to find it? Printables
Pirate
Pirates have been the protagonists of thousands of stories, both fictional and real. We imagine long beards, bandanas, and eye patches. So, we couldn’t leave out one of the most iconic ships of all!
This model can be customized in OpenSCAD, as the 20 remixes and a corresponding make (pictured above) attest. The overall size and the thickness of its features are among the customizable features. To print it, you’ll have to use a little bit of support. For the best results, check out our guide on organic supports.
- Who designed it? MakerBlock
- How printable/popular is it? With over 50 makes shared, this ship has been tested and approved by the community. Also, 20 remixes offer alternative takes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Cargo
Nowadays, cargo ships are among the most common type of ships. Used to transport our goodies back and forth around the globe, they’re quite imposing in stature. This cargo ship model is divided into parts, so you won’t need a multicolor 3D printer to achieve a realistic look.
Container
If you’re more into functional prints, you’ll surely like this model.
This container ship is cute, and with a simple layer color change, also easy to customize with different colors. You can use it in the bathtub or as a tray for all of your calibration cubes lying all over your house, for example.
Check out the designer’s videos for more guidance on the best way to print this model.
- Who designed it? vandragon_de
- How printable/popular is it? 58 maker are putting their printed container ship to good use.
- Where to find it? Printables
MS Viking Grace
Next to cargo ships, cruise ships are pretty common. Though not for everyone, many of us dream of a relaxing cruise, being on the open sea, all the while enjoying a delicious beverage. Now, you don’t have to go far away to find a cruise, you can 3D print it and guide it all on your own!
This RC cruise ship model measures 60 centimeters. Since it’s a big model, you’ll need somewhere between 200 to 300 grams of filament. To print it in multicolor, the designer has written a brief guide for the layer color changes.
- Who designed it? Depronized
- How printable/popular is it? Over 500 makers have downloaded this model, and around 50 users have liked it.
- Where to find it? Cults
The Nina
Columbus’ Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria are among the most famous ships of all time. Although credited with “discovering” the Americas, Columbus’ reputed accomplishment is hotly contested these days. Nevertheless, no list would be complete without a vessel from this storied voyage.
The model of the Nina is divided into pieces – a lot of pieces in fact, over 100. So, you won’t need supports or a multicolor printer. To obtain the best result, the creator suggests using 0.1-mm layer height for all the pieces, except for the masts and yard. Those should be printed at 0.05-mm layer height.
Depending on intended use and how much post-processing you want to carry out, opting for wood PLA could be a great way of achieving a realistic look.
- Who designed it? TomasT
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded nearly 1,000 times. It’s a challenging model without a doubt, but the final result is super detailed.
- Where to find it? Printables
Icebreaker
This cute model represents the most useful ship in winter: an icebreaker. As the name implies, an icebreaker is a ship designed to navigate through ice-covered waters and provide safe waterways for other boats.
Like other models on this list, you can achieve a multicolor print with some simple layer color changes. The designer includes a detailed explanation of where to swap filaments. One maker suggests using tree supports but touching the build plate only.
- Who designed it? vandragon_de
- How printable/popular is it? 13 makers have shared their prints, and a few of them have the model a 5-star rating.
- Where to find it? Printables
Bonus: Kits
If you’d like even more realistic and detailed ship models, maybe you should consider buying one. There are a few companies that produce winged (3D printed) replicas of famous ships. The following are just a few of them:
- 3D-Wild is a company founded in 2021 in Philadelphia. They produce warships, aircraft, and tanks, both from world wars as well as more modern ships. They offer 3D printed ship kits and also accessories for them. All their models are printed in resin for higher detail, and they’re easy to paint. At the moment, they offer 10 warship kits but they’ll probably keep expanding their inventory.
- Blue Ridge Models has a similar history to 3D-WILD. Founded in 2021, this company has the main goal of creating fine-scale models of ships. They use both FDM 3D printers and resin casts to make it possible. They currently offer over 30 different models. On their site, you can find detailed instructions for their assembly.
- Titanic Honor & Glory was born from a shared passion for the Titanic by some clever designers from the video game industry. The team has brought to life 17 highly detailed models of ships, together with a proprietary virtual reality software of the Titanic. Their models are realized with resin 3D printers, and although you don’t have to assemble them, you have to paint them. Fortunately, they’re printed with grey resin, so it’s simple to brush on them.
License: The text of "3D Printed Ship: 10 Incredible Models to 3D Print" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.