Il Grifone

Rare yes (for once!), but a tad OTT pricewise IMHO.

And not only the factory weathering, but also some of its own!

A centre car usually makes at least £20 (the blue/white version being preferred to the blue/grey, despite the latter being rarer) and the power and trailer about the same. In good condition you could expect £40. http://collectables.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=blue+pullman&_sacat=1&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_dmpt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&_odkw=dublo+%28bogie%2Cpony%29&_osacat=0&bkBtn= Track and controller is just a matter of luck, whether you meet the right collector or not.

Strangely these are sought after (probably because they leaked and/or got lost/thrown away and are usually missing). They normally go for £5- 10, though this is a nice example. The rush to bid is rather revealing as to the item's value. As to Kitmaster kits, the rarer ones (BP for example) fetch good prices. and it must be remembered that the dearer ones where over £10 in today's money. It's probable that the emphasis on these dearer models led to their demise. I, for one, didn't have 10/6d to spend on the latest loco kit every month.

There shouldn't be any problem with the bogies - I think they're the same as other models - I'll check. Getting hold of a spare body is a different matter. http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=triang+em2 There are the main body parts, but we're looking at £50 ish BIN. Complete locos are £175+ BIN - more than double Tri-ang's price allowing for inflation. You could try for the auction 'Pandora' at £20 something though. With two power bogies, she might actually pull something.

The Tri-ang model is a highly desirable collector's item and comes at collector's prices! It has the standard Tri-ang power bogie with its attendent pros and cons and, like all Tri-ang locos, won't pull the skin off a rice pudding without the aid of Magnadesion or extra weight (plenty of room for the latter). Basic detail as would be expected from the period and green self coloured plastic (later and rarer examples in blue). The pantographs are functional and the model will run from overhead or the track. Avoid the Trix EM1 though. Not because there is anything wrong with it basically, but because it's to 1/80 scale. (Collector's prices apply here too!)

IIRC, not having the book to hand, these had single arc roofs, which means the eaves panel is deeper than on the Ratio coaches. The ducket is also wider (sticks out more). (You can always be like me and ignore it!)