Step 18: Attach the Top and Wind it Up

Attaching the top (at least the way I did it) is pretty straight forward. Remember that little cardboard circle I cut out from the middle of the base? Well after cutting out a circle (big enough to fit over the neck of the pop bottle) WITHIN the cardboard circle, I slipped it over the opening of the bottle. This just buffers the space between the bottle and the top to keep it from wobbling. Following that:

• I did a test run with the poles first. I put the skewers in the holes I made way back at the start of all this (weeks prior) in the base.
• Lined up the top with the pop bottle centre and the poles. I took time to see if they still lined up, if the poles were straight, and if I needed to make adjustments (which I did).
• Took it apart again. Added all the characters on their poles (which I painted silver).
• Replaced the top.
• Reached beneath the base and carefully pushed the poles deeper into the top.

That's it. I can actually take most of it apart for storage, and I can also unscrew the main part of the music box from the base if I ever want to change the guts or music that plays.