Let the battle commence!
THERE aren't many places where William of Orange can be seen alongside Michael Collins.
But the leader of the Glorious Revolution and the IRA commander during partition stand side by side in a tiny model soldier shop in Belfast which has earned a world-wide reputation.
In fact, so popular are the models sold at the Smithfield Market store – many of which are not available anywhere else – that the Michael Collins figure is currently sold out.
And the latest line on the shelves is the first ever model UDR men.
Proprietor Sam Watson, who founded the Irish Toy Soldier Museum shortly after he retired in 1990 when he paid a visit to a model soldier shop in Cork while at a wedding, said he thought the range would be very popular.
"We do all the Irish regiments and the Irish Rangers would be the most popular of the models but I'm expecting the new UDR models to be very popular because this is the first time anyone has done the home regiments," the avid collector said.
"We cater for all sides and offend no one – we have models from the Napoleonic wars, the First and Second World Wars and the Irish Civil War as well as the Irish regiments."
The former BT engineer now gets letters of thanks from collectors as far away as Alaska, Puerto Rico, Italy, China, Argentina and the US.
Clients of the Smithfield shop include judges, serving soldiers and the heir to the Bacardi drinks empire.
"It's incredible that a small shop in the corner of Smithfield reaches all of these people."
Sam regularly attends model soldier shows in America, where there are hordes of eager collectors – many of whom have roots in Ireland.
But the extraordinary detail of the figurines comes at a price – the most expensive models, from the St Petersburg collection, take about two months to paint and cost 200.
"People don't realise the work that goes into the models. They are made from alloy metals and shipped over here from England for assembly before being painted.
"I personally don't do any of the painting but I have a couple of lads who do painting for me.
"My friend Sam Lindsay, who died two Christmases ago, was a world famous painter of models and I have lost a lot of interest since he died.
"It's just a hobby to me and wouldn't be commercially viable – it's only because I pay such low rent that I can keep it going.
"On Saturday mornings we have a coffee club with people coming here to see all the latest models."
The 66-year-old, from Rosetta in south Belfast, added: "We've even had a few requests for christening sets so that when the kids grow up they will have a set."
l For more details of the Irish Toy Soldier Museum, visit www.irishtoysoldier.co.uk
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
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