Travel With Rithu

Today is a super duper fun day! Guess what? I went to a toy soldier factory called Prince August Toy Soldier Factory with my parents!!! The factory is in Killarney, Ireland. The route is very adventurous and your ears might close due to altitude difference as we were driving uphill. But that is the only fastest route to it!

In the factory, we saw many chess piece miniatures, guard miniatures and also cute miniatures of angels in cupboards. Chess piece miniatures were in the form of people(except the knights), all dressed up for a war. It was all simply wonderful to see.

We asked the staff about the toy making activity. But instead, they said that they will make the sculpture and I can only paint it. After I heard this, I was like WHAT!!! I was surprised, because I thought I could make the sculpture and also paint it all by myself. Without any choice, I decided to view the demonstration. While they were doing the demonstration, I understood why I can’t do it. It was because the process of making it was very dangerous because the metal was very, very hot!!!

HOW TO MAKE A TOY SCULPTURE!

MATERIALS: Mold, Boiled Solder Metal, Spoon, Boiler, Paint and a ribbon(any colour).

STEPS:

1. Boil some solder metal in the boiler for at least 5 minutes.
2. Next, take the mold of anything you want (I chose a mom rabbit holding her baby rabbit).
3. Then, take a spoon, take some boiled solder metal and pour it inside the mold for about 2 minutes.
4. After 2 minutes, open the mold cover and our sculpture is ready!!
5. Next, we take the sculpture out of the mold, cut off the unnecessary parts and put them back to the boiler.
6. Then, it’s painting time!!
   • When I went to sit on a chair, I saw many different metal paint colours. After I put a plastic apron on me, the staff told me to choose any colour for each part of the sculpture. While I was painting, I noticed that my Dad went to explore the other parts of the factory. After painting……TADA!!!!!!! IT’S READY!! Note:After painting each part of the sculpture, it’s best to dry it.Also, we have to have lots of patience and don’t be in a rush.The staff will come now and then to check how we are getting on.In the whole experience, I was very excited, so I didn’t have the patience to paint slowly.