3D Printed Anastasia Music Box

A local community theater approached me with a unique challenge—they needed an Anastasia music box as a prop for their production but couldn’t find one that was affordable. The only ones available were selling for $1,000 on eBay, which was far beyond their budget!

To solve this, I designed a simplified prop version that captured the look of the original. But after completing it, I wanted to take the project further—creating a fully functional version with intricate details, a working hinge on the lid, magnets to hold it shut, and a real music mechanism that plays the song Once Upon a December!

This guide will walk you through each step of the process, from Tinkercad designing, to 3D printing, painting and finishing, and final assembly. Whether you’re printing your own or just curious about the process, you’ll find everything you need here!

Start from where you prefer:

1. Fully assembled music box: Completed Music Box Listing
2. 3D print STL files: STL Files Digital Download
3. Hardware kit: Music Box Hardware Kit

Components:

1. 3D Printed Parts
2. STL files Digital Download on Etsy
3. Music box mechanism (18-note, "Once Upon A December")
4. Pursuestar Yunsheng (Silver) on Amazon
5. Sankyo SIQI (Gold) on Amazon

Hardware:

1. Music Box Hardware Kit on Etsy
2. 2 metal pins (nails cut to size):
3. Lid hinge (2.3mm diameter x 24mm long)
4. Inside hinge (1.8mm diameter x 19mm long)
5. 4 circular magnets (5mm diameter x 1mm tall)
6. Magnets 5mm x 1mm on Amazon
7. 3 screws
8. M2 x 6mm on AliExpress
9. Small screwdriver

Finishing Supplies

1. White Primer
2. Rust-Oleum Flat White on Amazon
3. Gold Spray Paint
4. Rust-Oleum Vintage Gold on Amazon
5. High-Gloss Glaze
6. Krylon Clear Finish Coat on Amazon
7. Acrylic Paints (for hand-painted details: green, white, red, black, etc.)
8. Detail Paintbrushes
9. Superglue

I designed the music box using Tinkercad, a beginner-friendly 3D modeling tool. If you'd like to modify the design, you can import the STL files into Tinkercad or another CAD program. The design includes:

1. A main box with built-in slots for the music mechanism
2. A lid with a hinge that opens to about 100 degrees
3. Dancing figures that pivot down before closing and tip up manually and hold with magnets after opening
4. A swan scene under the lid for decorative detailing
5. Spaces for the magnets and screws

Printer and Settings:

1. Filament:
2. White PLA (Main, Lid, Figures, Bottom, *Rings)
3. Black PLA (Insides)
4. Gold PLA (*Rings if desired for a separate look from spray paint gold)
5. Layer Height:
6. 0.12mm (Main, Lid, Figures, Bottom, Insides)
7. 0.2mm (Rings)
8. Supports: Only for Main, Lid, Figures, Bottom
9. Infill: 15%
10. Wall Loops: 4

Printing Instructions:

1. Print each of the 8 STL files separately
2. Prints should be oriented as depicted
3. The lid is printed upright with supports for better detail
4. Allow the prints to fully cool before removing them from the build plate.

Post-Print Cleanup:

1. Remove supports and lightly sand edges as needed
2. Check tolerances on hinges for clearance and lightly sand as needed

Flat White Primer Coat: (Optional if spraying with paint & primer gold)

1. Spray paint white PLA prints with flat white primer if desired (especially Figures)
2. This helps fill in rough areas and help other paints stick better depending on the PLA
3. Let dry completely

Gold Spray Paint:

1. Spray paint vintage gold Main, Lid, Bottom, and Rings
2. For the inside hinge areas, only lightly spray or you may need to sand for tolerances
3. If spraying more than one side (such as the lids) I recommend waiting 24 hours to dry before flipping
4. Let dry completely

Hand-Painting Details:

1. Use acrylic paints to highlight the flowers, pearls, inside lid swan scene, figures, etc
2. I typically use 2 coats of acrylic or a single heavy coat allowing paint to dry between layers

High-Gloss Finish Coat:

1. Apply a clear glaze for a polished, authentic finish
2. Let dry thoroughly before assembly

Steps not included in the Assembly Video:

1. Attach the bottom to the Main:
2. Orient and hold the music mechanism inside the Main
3. Apply superglue to the bottom of the Main, align the Bottom part to the holes
4. Screw in screws
5. Insert Magnets:
6. Superglue all magnets securely
7. Secure 2 magnets inside the lid and the main ring for closure
8. Place 2 magnets in the inside pivot door slots to hold the figures in position
9. Make sure magnets are oriented to attract
10. Install Inside Hinge:
11. Insert the smaller hinge pin (1.8mm x 19mm) for the inner pivot door, using a touch of superglue to hold

Steps as outlined in the Assembly Video:

1. Install Figures:
2. Use a screw coming up under the inside pivot door to attach the Figures to the top of the door
3. Install Music Component:
4. Slide music component into the slot, lining up the screw holes.
5. From the bottom, use 3 screws to hold the music component tight.
6. Secure the Figures and Main Ring:
7. Slide the Inside pieces with the Figures into the inner slot.
8. Slide the main Ring into the slot
9. Use the final two screws to attach the Ring to the main box
10. Install Main Hinge:
11. Insert the larger hinge pin (2.3mm x 24mm) into the lid hinge, then use a small piece of putty to fill hole
12. Install Lid Ring:
13. Line up the lid ring directly on top of the main ring so magnets line up
14. Apply superglue to the lid ring
15. Close the lid down on the lid ring so it is aligned directly with the magnet.
16. Hold upside down and allow superglue to dry
17. Final Adjustments:
18. Test the lid opening and closing smoothly
19. Ensure magnets hold the figures properly in place

With careful 3D printing, painting, and assembly, you can create a stunning Anastasia-inspired music box to treasure. Whether you're crafting this as a gift, a theater prop, or a collector’s item, this project brings the magic of "Once Upon A December" to life.

If you'd rather start with a different part of the process, be sure to check out the pre-made options on Etsy:

1. Fully assembled music box: Completed Music Box Listing
2. 3D print STL files: STL Files Digital Download
3. Hardware kit for Assembly: Music Box Hardware Kit

Enjoy your beautiful, one-of-a-kind music box!