Western houses -- yeh! or meh?

[Kenny]

I haven't started collecting the Western series (yet).

But I was looking over the Western sets on the database yesterday and I must confess I was a bit underwhelmed by the houses in this series (saloons, jails, barns, etc.).  My reaction was:  "meh". 

I want to like them, but I just don't find them very appealing.  The colors seem wrong, the signs are written in typefaces that are inaccurate, and nothing about them seem to suggest much in the way of play value.

So help me out.  Tell me why I should like these Western houses.  Which ones are your favorites and why?

I would really like to create a Western town, but....

-- Kenny

[kenc]

I would say: if none of the western houses appeal to you because you don't like the colors, type and play value, then either don't collect them or customise the buildings by painting them and creating your own signs in Photoshop. Be careful with this kind of statements, all Playmobil western houses without exception are subject to a lot of people's happy memories. The way they're designed makes them real toy legends. I'm a child of the 80s, so I owned 3423 Sherrif's office, 3461 Saloon and 3462 Drug's Store, I just can't count the numerous stories anymore that played in my small western town. I do respect your opinion, but stating that the western buildings aren't appealing is the same than questioning the Beatles' musical talents. So westerns houses, yeh!

Ken
MEDIEVAL collector

[Wolf Knight]

yeh all he way!!! For all the reasons Ken has listed and many many more!!!! Perhaps you can search the forum for pictures of them, either in dioramas or photostories 

[tahra]

stating that the western buildings aren't appealing is the same than questioning the Beatles' musical talents.

  It is most certainly NOT!

Personally, I see not much talent there (ok, if they wrote the songs, some are awesome by someone else) 

If you don't see the charm of the western buildings (besides maybe going to an eye doctor  ), I'd suggest turning someplace else.... Sometimes... I wish I had that problem.. even if just with a theme or two would be a much needed.. rest for my poor wallet... 

[bonniebeth]

One thing I like about them is that they can be stacked to make two-story buildings, which makes them look a whole lot better. Also, some of the details are extremely.... I would say accurate, but that may not be correct. THey are extremely stereotypical of what you see in hollywood westerns. Details like the forked columns, the swinging saloon doors, and the wooden boardwalks in front of the buildings. Also, if you have lots of extra sidewalk pieces from building two story buildings, you can lay them down between the buildings, so that you have a continous sidewalk down the street. Or you can put the buildings really close together so that you have a continous sidewalk, rather than seperate porches.

That said, I can also see some of your points. I like the colors of, but the type fonts, not so much. However, the signs are only stickers, and you can design something more accurate, as kenc said. The furniture included is somewhat repititious, lots of tables and chairs, but they are a simple design which is accurate. The buildings are somewhat small.

[Rasputin]

well if you do not actually have any and you are gatering your oppinion from tiny pictures then I would just not start collecting them at all, more for the rest of us who do like them

[Rhalius]

If you don't like the buildings I would simply advice not to get them.

If you have nothing of western yet you can even consider leaving it at that and focus on the themes you already have, or you can simply focus your western setups on other aspects such as gold seekers, indians and the civil war.

I'd gues the western theme is actually quite varied in that regard. Theres bandits too.

[Wolf Knight]

well if you do not actually have any and you are gatering your oppinion from tiny pictures then I would just not start collecting them at all, more for the rest of us who do like them

I share that sentiment!!! I love my collection in huge numbers and varied themes!!! 
So if one does not collect the wester houses it does leave more for others who want to make their collection bigger 

Seriously though, At least one building of each should be enough for someone who is not interested in the theme. They are enough to make a nice town 

[Amd]

i like the western houses, the first ones are my favorites, but the steck-alike i'm sure have a lot of possibilities, lots of accesories with the sets as well,  but those are a little more complex to my taste for the western... i'm sure 'cos i'm used to the old ones

On the first one i like the simplicity, and the perfect the suit each other side by side, or adding stories...

On the new ones I like the roof to my steck houses, the porch, the jail, the short 3x long handrail, along with the posts... etc, etc...

So, yeh! for the western houses!!! old and new ones!!!