LGB
Lehman Porter: This engine came with a starter set that I purchsed when it was on sale in Singapore. It also had two freight cars with it. It looked pretty awful straight out of the box but with simple weathering and a nuckle coupler on the front of the Porter it suddenly looks a lot more realistic. I want to fit a smoke unit to this engine and lights to the yellow 4 wheel box van, but I have yet to to do so. I am pleased with this set condsidering the price but I do not think it is quite as good as the made in Germany LGB stuff although it is a clear cut above my made in China models.
LGB 20630 DRGW Diesel: I am very happy with this model. It was well worth the US$199 I paid when it was on special. It runs very well and has plenty of other features such as opening doors and a switch that allows the engine to be completely off or have the lights on only.
LGB Handcar This model is not too expensive and runs well although it is not as good as it could be in appearance but it is of course very popular with visitors.
LGB 73968 30th birthday starter set. I mainly bought this set on account of the very low price (US$140)I know that the Stainz 0-4-0 is not at all in keeping with the other models on my layout but it is THE classic G scale model and at that price I could not resist it. This set has some drawbacks over other LGB products that I have owned such as plastic side rods on the engine, no lighting output sockets on the engine but overall it is still a fantastic deal and I would recomend it as a G scale starting point. The wagons that came with the set have now been weathered and now usually run behind my LGB Porter.
I do not have one yet but one day I hope to buy a LGB C&S mogul as this is my favourite model. Another likely future purchase will be a Hartland Railbus. Other than wagons or coaches I will not buy any "made in China" models because like most things produced in China the quality is usually hopeless. I hope to add sound units to some of the items I already have (eg the LGB diesel).
Bachmann items.
Swanne river starter set. I got this set on special in China for RMB 880 (US$108 at the time). The track is a joke. The passenger cars are good. I lightly weathered them and added figures to the interior. Pulling apart the models to do this can be a hassle when it comes to putting the model back together you need to be carefull to get the electrical connection for the lights in place. I want to add track powered lighting to these models some time soon. The engine is OK considering the price but the mounting for weight in it broke and has proven difficult to repair well. The smoke unit is a joke as with all Bachmann smoke units.
Shay This model is the biggest waste of money I have ever made in G scale trains. It looks great but it has too much overhang to run on my layout. The detail is great but the lights are only visible (including those in the cab and the ashpan light) are only visible when it is running far faster than it should. The smoke unit is a joke. It needs to be oiled after 10 hours of running and mine does not even run properly anyway (after just a couple of hours of use)..... The only good thing about it other than the detail level is that they have an operational one within two hours of where I live in Taiwan! (on the Alishan line).
Seasons Greetings Trolley (tram) car: I got this model when I was in China so I could not choose one of the other colour schemes as this was the only one available there. I have added figures etc. One of the gears has broken (no it had not been used a lot) so I intend to repower it with an LGB power block. The detail is quite good, the interior lights and directional lighting work well but the trolley pole is impossible to use. The light weight means that one of the power packs from the Bachmann sets is OK for this model when running on the end to end track with the automatic reversing unit that I have added to that line on my layout.
Gandy dancer (hand car), item 96201. This model looks good, especially once weatherd but the mechanism is an absolute joke as is Bachmann's service outside of the USA. Do not even contemplate buying this model if you actually want to run it rather than leave it sitting on a bookshelf.
Twenty foot flat cars (item 95267). I have 3 of these. They are good, especially for a layout which lacks space as they appear to be longer than they really are!.