Alternative buildings

[Jay]

I was at TRU yesterday looking around, (seems there are a few new pirate things I hadn't seen listed?)  and came across a small display with the figures that seem like little plush cats or bears or something.  There were a few sets of small shops with accessories and the like. I looked very closely at the buildings and accessories, and could really see where, with the execption of the animal figures, these could fit in perfectly with the PMB buildings. Actually, they looked slightly better.  (I won't mention the brand name here, but I think you probably have seen it)
So, what's people's take on these?

[tahra]

Why not mentioning the brand name? I believe I showed a couple of those in the neverending PROCESS.

Downside is, they're impossible to find here (wait, that may be an upside! )  and they're expensive as Hades.

[Jay]

Well, if it's okay here.  The ones I saw were Calico  Critters, but I've seen Sylvania or Sylvanian buildings  in  England which are very similar.  I saw some incredible Sylvanian buildings but I recall these were very expensive. 

[tahra]

I think it's the same brand, yes...

They used to be around (rarely, but still ) here when I was little. Haven't seen them here for ages now. Bought some in London - there is SUCH awesome stuff! Food items, for instance... The grapes

We have a couple of buildings, interiors, and smaller stuff too... Most fits very well.

[bonniebeth]

Yeah, Calico Critters are made by Sylvanian Families. I used to play with them as a child, and the licensed Maple Town toys (from a cartoon of the same name), also made by Sylvanian Families. They are awesome toys. They're on the same aisle with playmobil at TRU, and I have to just not look or I'd start collecting them too. They're well-made, with well thought out sets and lots of details, though not as great as playmobil of course. I still have some old Maple Town furniture hanging around, and while it doesn't exactly blend with Playmobil, it is to the right scale. In fact I discovered a Maple Town pot in with my playmobil pots the other day; it blended right in because it was the same size.

[Birdie]

Yeah same here. I am one inch away from starting a Sylvanian collection, but for now I just buy what is useful for Playmobil diorama's.

The vegetables, fruit, sandwiches, desserts and dishes look perfect. It's a different kind of plastic, of course, but for small items that doesn't matter.

The buildings itself are a bit too large for PM scale, I think, and the sets are pretty expensive. But those animals are awefully cute, the little ones are even cuter and the babies, well, you'd just want to eat them up or something 

[Salamander]

Anyone know if Calico/Sylvanian does parts orders?  Occasionally I'll see an interesting accessory that would work with a Playmo project, but invariably I don't need the whole set.

[playmofire]

Sylvanian Families do some nice vehicles too:

http://www.sylvanianfamilies.com/product_info.php?cPath=18&products_id=1213

http://www.sylvanianfamilies.com/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=884

http://www.sylvanianfamilies.com/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=993

http://www.sylvanianfamilies.com/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=1303

They used to have a vintage bus, too:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2514/4102888038_027d905078_z.jpg

I'm not sure, however, how they compare with the Playmobil figures for scale.

[Birdie]

The animals actually have the same height as PM clickies, up to the shoulders. Their head, however, is huge in comparison   

The animals need big chairs and seats, so they don't topple over. That doesn't match with Playmobil. But other furniture seems fine.
The cars look great    But they're too big, I'm afraid.

No idea if they do spare part orders.

[Jay]

Wow, I love that Regency Hotel.  Not a terrible price, but shipping costs would be way too much.  I also like that the 'chef' is named Basil. I didn't see a Manuel character, however.