How to Make a Realistic Island Model

This past weekend we had the most dreary weather imaginable - cold, wind, and drizzle all day long, perfect weather for getting creative. My ten year old son had an assignment for school to create a realistic model of an actual island. This couldn't be a made up island, it had to be an actual replica, so we decided to take on the challenge. Everything in the island was made made from stuff we found around the house including cardboard, aluminum foil, sponges, glue, Modpodge, and paint.

My son loves Jurassic Park and wanted to do Isle Nublar even though it is not an actual island. Therefore, after much discussion, we decided that making a replica of the big island of Hawaii, where most of the film was shot, was the next best thing. After explaining to him that we could not make the model as big as our kitchen table, we compromised on making a replica about as big as a piece of A3 paper. 

All three of my boys got really into this project and helped out. In the end, they were all really proud of their work and thought that their island looked about as real as it could get it. I was very impressed. If you want to make one of your own, here's how.

How to Make Your Island

Step 1: Making the base

We began by looking through images on Google for pictures of Hawaii. We finally found a topographical map of the island and printed it out at the size we wanted.Then we cut out a few of the main layers from the page and used them as patterns for cardboard cut-outs. For the mountain peaks, we crumbled up aluminum foil.

For the water, we used a base of cardboard.  Don't forget to trace the area in the middle where the island will go later. Then glue rolls of aluminum foil to make waves and hot glue them onto the base. Try to make the waves look as if they are crashing toward the island. When you have made enough, take another piece of aluminum foil and press it over the entire base.

Step 2: Get messy

My boys love paper-mache. Although some people prefer thinned down wallpaper paste or white glue, I have always loved the feel of flour and water the consistency of a thick liquid. You can use newspaper strips to cover your island base. I put our island up on a cereal bowl so that I could really fold the newspaper strips around the bottom of the base.

Step 3: Trees and groundcover

I was amazed at how easy it was to make trees. I just destroyed my kitchen sponge until it was into a zillion tiny pieces. You could use an old blender if you prefer, but I actually enjoyed this bit. Then mix in a bowl a 50/50 mix of white PVA glue and green acrylic paint. You don't need a lot as you just want it to cover the sponge and not soak it. Put on some gloves if you have them and mix your sponge pieces around until they are completely covered. Then spread them out on a piece of baking paper until you can glue them onto your base.

Once your paper-mache island is dry, give it a coat of green and brown. Look at your map to see what areas of your island will be full of forest and which areas are fields, cities, and mountains. If your island has rivers, paint these on according to your map. 

Your final step is to add the trees. If your trees are still wet, you can just stick them on as they already have glue in them. If not, add a touch of glue under each one.

Step 4: Water, water, water

Use the same 50/50 ratio of blue acrylic paint to white PVA glue and paint the entire water base. My sons love detail, so that used some darker blue between the waves and brushed white paint on the top of each wave. Don't forget to add white around the base of the island as this is where the waves crash the most. If you have some Mod Podge, you can paint this over the water to make it shinier.

Step 5: The final touches

Glue your island onto the water base and add some final touches. Make sure your rivers connect to the water. Add a bit of white at the top of a waterfall. Add a few different colors of green to your trees. Soon your island will look amazing!

The next time your child comes home with a model project for a school project, you will be ready.