The Toy Collectors: Model citizen relives ancient battles in miniature and through re-enactments

Shane Kent's home is besieged by hundreds of soldiers all fully armed and ready for battle. But fear not, the armies are in fact tiny models of ancient warriors that Shane paints and customises in exquisite detail 

Shane Kent at Blackrock Castle in Cork in the costume he wears at Legion Ireland re-enactments. But Shane is also a model collector, painstakingly painting and customising hundreds of model soldiers. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Rounding up the miniature troops is no small feat for collector Shane Kent whose army of toy soldiers is going from strength to strength.

Visitors can’t help but get the feeling they are being watched at his family home in Mahon, Cork. It’s not surprising, given the 200 model Roman soldiers, 120 barbarians, and 55-strong ancient Macedonian army figurines bespeckling the residence.