Paint a Metal Miniature in Cork: Cast & Keep Your Own

Choose your model and bring it to life with color in Cork’s creative corner.

A 60-minute painting workshop in Cork where you choose a metal miniature mould, watch staff cast it in liquid metal, then paint the primed figure with acrylics and keep it as a souvenir. The workshop includes admission to the Toy Museum exhibits and suits adults and children over 7 years old.

The Experience

You arrive at the workshop and watch a live demonstration of how metal casting works. The staff show you the process—liquid metal poured into a hard rubber mould—and then you pick which figure you want cast: a toy soldier, cavalry rider, ballerina, fairy, or castle and fairy doors from the available options. This is not a generic blank; you're choosing the actual shape you'll spend the next part of the hour bringing to life.

Once your model is cast and cooled, you move to the creative corner. The figure arrives primed and ready for paint. You choose your colours from the acrylics on hand and start painting. There's no instruction beyond what you saw in the demo—this is your time to work at your own pace, whether you're alone, with children, or in a group. The workshop runs 60 minutes total, so the pacing is built around getting the casting done and giving you real time at the easel.

When you finish, you take your painted miniature home. Admission to the Toy Museum exhibits is included, so if you want to spend more time on-site before or after, the museum is there. The workshop is wheelchair accessible, and children must be accompanied by an adult; kids under 6 are not recommended for this one.

What’s included

• Hand-cast metal miniature souvenir in the shape you choose.
• admission to the Toy Museum exhibits.
• acrylic paints and brushes for your painting session.
• live demonstration of the metal casting process.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Toy Soldier Factory

Is this one for you?You walk out with a painted metal figure you made yourself in an hour, which is what makes this different from buying a toy—the casting and the painting are both part of the experience, not something someone else did before you arrived.

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Top questions

Can I choose which metal miniature gets cast for me?

Yes. The workshop offers a list of moulds to choose from—toy soldier, cavalry, ballerina, fairy, castle and fairy doors are examples—and staff cast the figure you pick in liquid metal before you paint it.

What happens during the 60 minutes?

You watch a live casting demonstration, choose and have your miniature cast in liquid metal, then move to the creative corner to paint the primed figure with acrylics. The time is split between the casting process and your painting work.

Do I get to keep what I paint?

Yes. Your finished painted miniature is yours to take home as a souvenir of the workshop.

Is this workshop suitable for children?

The workshop suits children over 7 years old when accompanied by an adult. It is not recommended for children under 6. All physical fitness levels can participate.

What's included in the ticket price?

The ticket includes the hand-cast metal miniature you paint, admission to the Toy Museum exhibits, and the full workshop instruction and materials.

Do I need any painting experience?

No. The workshop is designed as a relaxing, enjoyable session for beginners. The live demonstration shows you how the casting works, and you paint at your own pace with no prior skill required.