What you will need :Some natural sponges from craft store a wooden dowel or skewers and a board about the same width and height as a base of a ship length can be cut.
Example picture: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=70DC081AE39AAFE5!168917&authkey=!AJW2Hl33s-fMSjE&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg
Paint as you like acrylic works best due to can thin with water and sponges soak up color.