Is it a Bird, is it a Train ?

 A while back I came across a really odd toy on ebay, made by Lima Toys who I would normally have associated with train sets, the Convertor set was a strange toy that seemed to cover all the bases. The main part of the vehicle is in fact a train carriage or loco, with standard train wheels and bogeys. Its battery operated and in the set featured above, actually comes with track too. Where it differs though was the clever inclusion of clip on modular elements which allow the basic carriage to convert into a high speed bullet train, a metro bus and a futuristic jet plane.

 Further trawling on ebay, especially on the continent, revealed further sets which included to my delight, a space set. This set allowed the user to make a small moon bus, a large Eagle Transporter style shuttle and a smaller modular craft. The scale is 00/H0 like standard Hornby trains, so the main spaceship and airplane are quite large, detailed models.

 Lima apparently decided to use the same molds and parts for a simpler unmotorised version too, in different more garish colour. These 'Combi-Machines' came in four sets with enough parts in each one to create hovercraft, planes and spaceships. The construction is strong and sturdy generally, although the Combi versions do lack interior windows and other parts.