The other side of the ditch

I've been having a look over the other side of the ditch to see what the state of play is in Oz with regards to the availability of kits etc in N scale, as well as materials and prices.
(This isn't exhaustive before anyone else says anything)

Looking here there is a sizable number of manufacturers, as you would expect for a market that's 4-5 times the size of ours. as for the models.

The Diesel loco market is well catered for with mostly urethane kits, but some etched models available as well. The resin kits have a bit more detail than we are used to in similar products. Price-wise the loco kits seem to start at about $50 Aus, but more likely $100. There are also some RTR models available starting at $250. The kits use Us mechs, so in tis field they are no more advanced than us.

There are a limited number of steam locos available, including a 4-8-4 + 4-8-4 Garret as RTR models. I couldn't find any information on prices for these, and can only imagine what they might be. The steam loco kits I could find were ~$300 Aus, with no real information on whats actually in the kits.

Passenger cars from what I could find were laser cut microplywood. The kits cost about $40 without bogies. The bogies used are either US or Japanese depending on the prototype.
bogie wagons are ~$35 and 4 wheeled wagons are ~$15-$25 without chassis. the 4 wheeled wagons run on the good old peco underframe, though in this case they are actually correct.

There have been some recent developments with some 4 wheeled wagons being made RTR in China, and the first of some locomotive projects.

So my summary would be; larger ranges of models with more detailed parts. however they are still using US and British under frames for coaches and wagons.

Comments, gentlemen?