The orbits and physical parameters of three close, double-lined G0 eclipsing
binaries have been derived combining H_P, V_T, B_T photometry from the
Hipparcos/Tycho mission with 8480-8740 \AA ground-based spectroscopy. The setup
is mimicking the photometric and spectroscopic observations that should be
obtained by GAIA. The binaries considered here are all of G0 spectral type, but
each with its own complications: V781 Tau is an overcontact system with
components of unequal temperature, UV Leo shows occasional surface spots and GK
Dra contains a delta-Scuti variable. Such peculiarities will be common among
binaries to be discovered by GAIA. We find that the values of masses, radii and
temperatures for such stars can be derived with a 1-2% accuracy using the
adopted GAIA-like observing mode.Comment: accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics, contains 5
Tables and 3 Figures; correction of an important typ