New buildings for the x-mass layout.

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking about getting some new homes and shops for my x-mass layout.
All of my grandfathers PlasticVill stuff is showing its age.
I remember That Home Depo and WallMart sold the LEMAX stuff.
How dose it compair with the size of the trains. Dept 56 is out of my price range, but they have some nice stuff, anything else to look at?

[dougdagrump]

Size wise they are not scale but they are close enough to be used. If you have a "Michael's Arts & Crafts" store in your area they have their Lemax Christmas stuff on display. They are considerably cheaper than Dept 56 and I don't believe there is that much difference in quality. [:)]

[Anonymous]

I have a large collection of Dept. 56 "Snow Village" buildings, accumulated over a good many years. The structures themselves go quite well with O gauge trains, while most of the accessories (figures, etc.) are too large. I don't necessarily agree that Lemax measures up to Dept. 56 in terms of quality. The Lemax (and other knock-off village lines) are nice enough, but Dept. 56 still has the edge on overall quality. They do cost more, but you get what you pay for.

These days, about the only new "Snow village" structures I buy are those that come without "snow" on them, although they are made in far fewer numbers. They are of even higher quality, but I prefer them because they can be used on a layout that represents any season of the year.

Viewed from a distance, just about any of these various villages work well enough for a holiday layout. Precise scale isn't all that important; it's the overall effect that counts most.

[waltrapp]

In my opinion, the decision taht first has to be made is "will I like the toy-like appearance on the layout that they will leave?".

Don't jump on that comment harshly! I always say that if I was starting over that's the direction I would have gone with my layout. Especially since I only have a Christmas layout. What's available is nostalgic, nice looking, priced right if you wait til after Christmas, terrifically toy-like (which I now like), and there's plenty to pick from. I love the look.

I imagine careful selection could render a more realistic scene, but I think you add these types of buildings and accessories to your layout to create a certain ambiance.

So I think before you make price your deciding reason, think about the look that you want.

- walt

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input on this. I was mostly worried if they were to large or small.
i didnt want to end up with a bunch of buildings tha look like they belong with
an HO size train or that they should be with a large scale G. I like the look
of the Dept. 56, but I cant aford to buy a hole lot of that now. I have some stuff,
but the knock off is more in my price range. The toy look is just what I'm after.
I plan on working my milk car, and cattle platform and a few other
accessories into my display this year. I know my barrel loader guy
is like 14 feet tall to scale, so exact scale is not on my list.[:D]

[jonadel]

While the Lemanx is OK I would not want to put it next to D56, perhaps you could just start small with D56 and shop the internet for slightly used or a dealer going out of business.

Jon

[dk99358]

I've been picking up a bunch of Carroltowne (sp) stuff at Lowe's right before and after Christmas when they start discounting. Selection is limited but at 50-75% off, you can't beat the price.

Anyhow, I used 7 buildings, a half circle of track and a Lionel Christmas trolley on a 2 ft x 4 ft piece of plywood under the tree and thought it looked pretty darn good.

Dale

[Dave Farquhar]

For holiday village figures that are more appropriately sized, head for the nearest Dollar Tree. Their Cobblestone Corners-branded figures are more appropriately sized for Lemax and Dept. 56 buildings (and O gauge trains) than Lemax and D56 figures. They come in packs of 4 or 5 for $1, so they're cheap. Last year they had them out by this time. I haven't been in a Dollar tree for a couple of weeks so I'm not sure if they're out yet this year or not.

The Cobblestone Corners buildings look undersized to me--I've had people tell me they're S scale, but they look closer to HO scale to me, or maybe 1:72 scale or thereabouts. They'd be fine off in the distance for forced perspective. The figures are a real find though.

Also, I know some drugstores sell similar figures, usually painted differently, so checking your local drugstores is a good way to get some more variety.

[Anonymous]

I like the "Lemax" line of building myself. They're a nice looking alternative to Dept56 and at a fraction of the price. K-line's ceramic buildings offer a few additional and different choices. I beleive the manufacture is one and the same too. Take a good look at them. I use a few along with my Dept56 buildings (Christmas in the City/Dickens Village) The scales are not too far off from each other to notice the difference. Plasticville is still available and doctored up a little, I beleive they'd fit in too! I have a couple on mine.

[dougdagrump]

Lemax has product of varying quality depending on who the retailer happens to be. They do make some of the K-Line items as well as their standard line that you will find at places like Michael's and then a more or less economy line that you can find at Big Lots and other discount type stores. I have picked up some of the halloween items made by Lemax under the brand name, Spookytown = Michaels & Spookyville = BigLots, basically the sme just one is slightly better detailed than the other.