I’ve been debating whether or not to stain the Starry Night Orrery, and I’m honestly pretty torn about it.
I like the natural wood look, and it fits the overall aesthetic of the kit really well. At the same time, I keep wondering if a light stain or subtle finish could help bring out some of the details and make the model feel a bit more refined or personalized.
One thing that’s holding me back is the fact that the orrery is already fully assembled. I’m not sure how realistic it would be to take parts of it apart without damaging anything, especially since some of the pieces were already a tight fit during the build. I’m also worried about staining around gears or moving parts and accidentally affecting how smoothly it works.
For anyone who has stained a Robotime kit before, do you have any tips? I have a varnish that might be too thick but I also have stain in a spray paint bottle.
Did you stain before or after assembly?
Is partial disassembly doable, or is it better to leave it as-is?
I’d really appreciate any advice before I decide one way or the other.
This is the second build I’ve made. I didn’t had much experience with painting at the time, so I only painted the stars gold. I found it difficult to choose colors for this build, and I think it’s already beautiful as is.
I never color or stain my kits because I just love the look of the raw wood, so I got no opinions on whether or not to do it.
But I painted other small models, so I can give general advices if you decide to go for it:
If you can take apart some of the more fiddly pieces, or the arches which look more fragiles, do it. It’ll be easier.
Regardless, masking tape is gonna be your friend, and I’d use a mini paint sprayer for better control. If you don’t have those or dunno how to use one, some springy brushes, and paint with an oil like consistancy, enough to be easy to apply, but not so runny that it leaks and ruins nearby parts.
If you still got the base of the wooden parts, (the thing you pop the parts out of) use that as a test for paint consistency, and also as test for color once dry. You do a dot of the paint, small enough to dry fast, wide enough to see the result well.
That’s such a great question, and I totally understand why you’re torn. The natural wood look of the Starry Night Orrery already has a beautiful, classic feel, but a light stain or subtle finish could definitely highlight the details and make it feel more personalized.
First off, you’ve done a wonderful job. It turned out so well. I have painted and stained about 100 models. I paint and stain before assembling. It is very hard to do so afterwards. Paint does not stick well to wax. Stain won’t penetrate the wood at all where there is wax…therefore leaving light spots. I would leave it as is.
I haven’t built this and to be honest I do love the natural wood. But I’ve also seen some beautiful work when others paint their builds so it’s up to you. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong you can always alternate too. I do believe it’s easier to paint before assembling.
I think it is already beautiful as it is. I have not much experience in painting yet so I can’t really give advise if it’s ok to paint it once built. I believe it would be harder to paint especially on tight crevices.
This is such a beautiful kit. You have done an amazing job. It is beautiful as it is, i don’t think you should take the risk and taking it apart. If you really want to, you can paint it with a marker in small areas to highlight the details.
I usually paint my kits before assembling them though the disadvantage is that sometimes, the piece is hard to fit because of the paint. If you already assembled it, I advise that you use a paint brush with thin bristles. You can still paint that carefully.
I’d keep it natural if it’s already assembled. The wood suits this kit beautifully, and staining now could risk the moving parts. If anything, maybe a very light wax or finish just to enhance the grain without changing the look
I do believe it’s easier to paint before assembling. 
