Michaels craftman store.....

[andregg1]

Hi to all.
Today I went in Michaels store, looking for somethingto my kids.
suddenly in hte chrismas secction I found a lot of houses and bulding stuff like Depto 56, and streets lights . 3 diferent model, and 3 or 4 for 7 dollars. Railroad crossing for the same price. I think that is cheap and looks very nice. Take a look........
Andre.

[Anonymous]

I beleive that Michaels carries the Lemax line of ceramic buildings. I was in Jo Ann fabris looking for foam rubber to put under the track for the Christmas layout and found they are carrying yet another line of similar buildings. Theirs are called Victorian Series and Currier and Ives:

http://www.jo-ann.com/catalog.jhtml;$sessionid$WTR1CVQAAGDDAP4SY5LRHOR50LD3UEPO?CATID=136079

[andregg1]

Yeap.
You are right, the street lamp are Lemax.
nice stuff for the price........
Andre.

[waltrapp]

I used a 50% off coupon and picked up a huge packet of birch ambres for $6.50!!

I always said that if I was willing to start over and scrap all of the scenery things that I"ve made an accumulated over the years, I would definitely go the ceramic building route and get into all of the beautiful, and very seasonal, Lemax, Dept 56, etc.. My nephew went that route - now I'm jealous!

- walt

[Anonymous]

Purchased a nice (for the price) Lemax electric train a couple years ago to use in a Christmas setup. Came with a 0-6-0, flat car, and a coach and several sections of straight track equipped with a trip mechanism that would engage a switch on the bottom of the loco that would put it in reverse. Store manger was less than knowledgable when I inquired as to the availability of extra track to make a loop. The back and forth motion would be ok with a trolley but looks silly with a train.

[CSXJOE]

Take a look at the dried flowers, we use them for trees on the club layout. First spray them with hairspray so they don't completely dry out.

[andregg1]

OH thank good idea.....
I will try.........
Andre.

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSXJOE

Take a look at the dried flowers, we use them for trees on the club layout. First spray them with hairspray so they don't completely dry out.

[Anonymous]

I don't know. Maybe I am alone on this, but I am not a fan of these Dept. 56 and Lemax buildings. It's just my opinion, but to me they look like they are decorated with cake frosting, and they just have this storybook, syrupy, fairytale look to them. Kind of like a gingerbread house decorated with frosting and gum drops. That's cool for layouts around the Christmas tree, but I always wince when I see them being used on layouts that are intended to be permanant. Just my opinion and yours may vary. That's the great thing about America.

[andregg1]

Me too
I don't like...but they have a lot of lamps that they look pretty good.
or dry flower for your layout and is not expencive...
Andre.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Reading and PA RR

I don't know. Maybe I am alone on this, but I am not a fan of these Dept. 56 and Lemax buildings. It's just my opinion, but to me they look like they are decorated with cake frosting, and they just have this storybook, syrupy, fairytale look to them. Kind of like a gingerbread house decorated with frosting and gum drops. That's cool for layouts around the Christmas tree, but I always wince when I see them being used on layouts that are intended to be permanant. Just my opinion and yours may vary. That's the great thing about America.

[Anonymous]

A lot of the buildings/structures do have a "frosted cake" look to them, but there are a number of them (in all of the product lines) that don't. If you look carefully you can find very nice buildings/structures/accessories that can be incorporated into a high rail layout for a reasonable price.

[andregg1]

I agree[:D][:D][:D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chuckn

A lot of the buildings/structures do have a "frosted cake" look to them, but there are a number of them (in all of the product lines) that don't. If you look carefully you can find very nice buildings/structures/accessories that can be incorporated into a high rail layout for a reasonable price.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Reading and PA RR

I don't know. Maybe I am alone on this, but I am not a fan of these Dept. 56 and Lemax buildings. It's just my opinion, but to me they look like they are decorated with cake frosting, and they just have this storybook, syrupy, fairytale look to them. Kind of like a gingerbread house decorated with frosting and gum drops. That's cool for layouts around the Christmas tree, but I always wince when I see them being used on layouts that are intended to be permanant. Just my opinion and yours may vary. That's the great thing about America.

No, you're not alone. I have bought a lot of Lemax stuff...mostly annimations and figures for 1 of my 2 Christmas layouts...also for a Halloween display...but except for a iron/brick fence unit, they are not on my perm. layout. I do, however, have a number of MR.Christmas circus/ammusement annimated rides on it, and many train people have a problem with those, scale-wise. Whatever "floats your boat". Joe

[Brutus]

Friday they have those Christmas houses on sale for 30 percent off, plus a coupon in the paper for an additional 25 percent off! I think Saturday they have a coupon for 20 percent off.

[Anonymous]

I have been advised that the Michaels in Columbia, S.C. has Lemax sets with a loop of track. They are selling only sets at this store, not individual pieces.

QUOTE: Originally posted by baberuth73

Purchased a nice (for the price) Lemax electric train a couple years ago to use in a Christmas setup. Came with a 0-6-0, flat car, and a coach and several sections of straight track equipped with a trip mechanism that would engage a switch on the bottom of the loco that would put it in reverse. Store manger was less than knowledgable when I inquired as to the availability of extra track to make a loop. The back and forth motion would be ok with a trolley but looks silly with a train.