Question on Building Type for the Layout

Yes, I have mixed buildings from many many sources and been quite happy.  But frankly the K-Line Buildings - at least the Mainline America line I'm thinking about - are a bit unique as to look: a tiny bit toylike, but detailed and well made, not completely"toy." I have a copy of the 2005 catalog -- its the only place I've ever seen some of them and they are jewels - just beautiful.

I suppose a few Lionel or Dept 56 buildings would fit in among them.  I don't know if repainting Christmas buildings over the white snow is feasible.  

I think I might be very tempted to hold back and try, over time, to do all_K-Line.  I would be a unique layout: I've never seen a layout with lots of buildings and all K-Line.   At most, you could add Lionel and other buildings on a temporary basis, knowing it would take time to find/buy all K-line.  I'm not sure how many different buildings K-Line made, but if not enough you could carefully repaint second copies of some to give them a different look. Valley Toys and Games, for example, could become a believeable and attractive corner drug store  . . .  etc.    

Good luck.  If you have pictures I love to see what you already have . . . 

The K-line buildings were made by Lemax from Lemax's own stock. They were modified by removing the snow and Christmasy stuff. On some, doors were changed to more of an O gauge size to make them look more O gauge.

Then the price was doubled.

Lee, I am tempted, as well, to try to obtain as many of these structures as I can locate and not try to mix in others as I think it would ruin the overall effect.  I will take some pictures and post them later today in this thread.

Vulcan, thanks for the background information! 

Walter:

Department 56 started issuing buildings WITHOUT the snow effect several years ago. I would look in the on-line auction sites and you can find them that are very inexpensive. The detail is usually excellent.

PTC,

Thanks for the reply.  When D56 started producing these items, was there a specific "series" name for the non snow effect that would allow me to narrow my search? 

I didn't know about those k-Line mainline buildings. I looked at them in the catalog and the some of the LeMax Caddington Village appear to match as well as some of the facades.

Moonman, thanks for the heads up...   I will check them out!

Here are some pictures...  please excuse the clutter.  I am in the process of moving some track around so none of these buildings have been hooked up yet.  Also found another one today and it is due here either Saturday or Monday.

Gene:

They were primarily in the Christmas in the City and New England Village series. However, all of the pieces in the Seasons Bay collection were without the snow effect.

With the D56 pieces, you get quality and very good detail.

Thanks Brian!

southernrr, Dept 56 also produced the Snow Village line of ceramic houses.  These, IMHO, are more S scale sized but I have seen them on O scale layouts too.

Rick