Many of our ships use fire buckets, so this easy to do idea could be use for many applications, in my case is what I did to build 8 buckets for my 1:32 Sub Chaser.

1. I started with 9/32" aluminum tubing because is soft and easy to shape, but you can use wider tubes according to your model scale.
2. First step is to inserted the tubing on the tip of any wire pliers and slowly turning and pushing the tube to the end of the pliers to make a bucket top shape.
After a few try and miss, I also use a wider cone shape tip tool to finally get what I was lookig for. After the shape was obtained I then proceeded to cut the tube to the desired length. Have a jig made to cut all of the buckets to the same high.
3. To create the bucket handles I use .51 mm brass wire then with the same tubing, draw half of it so you could have a visual pattern. Then wrap the wire half way on your tubing leaving material for the loop that will attach to the bucket.
4. Last thing to do now was tap the bucket rims, insert the wire and bend the ends upward.
5. At this time you should create a cradle for them if you gone to use more than one in you model.
6. Fill them with sand/glue or any other fine grainy material. I had baby bird food handy from my bird feeder. 🤣The density and color was just right.
The last old picture is a sample I follow to create two cradle with four buckets each.
I hope you guys like the idea.😎