The Company
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Having been around since 1911, Noch (pronounced knock)
in Germany offers an awesome line of model landscaping and detailing supplies in all of the popular scales. |
The Figures
The Noch range of N Scale figures is second only to Preiser in scope. What's more remarkable than the breadth of their figures range,
however, is the astonishing variability of quality. While most of them are about average, some are dreadfully poor, some are laughably silly and cartoonish, and some
are nearly as good as Preiser! It suggests they may be farming out their figure work to multiple subcontractors—I don't know; I'm just trying to
make sense of it, particularly since Noch figure sets are variously manufactured in Germany, Vietnam and China.
Quite a number of sets are identical to those from Woodland Scenics. Given that Woodland
sells rebranded Noch track cleaning accessories, one might assume Noch supplies their figures. However, many Woodland sets are not in the Noch catalog, so if Noch
is the source, they made over two dozen sets exclusively for Woodland. Or, is there a third source supplying both companies with figures?
At any rate, Noch also provided Walthers with their one and only figure set, and was commissioned to pack a few unpainted sets for
Conrad Electronic (pale yellow rows).
Noch sets are packed in a clear plastic box with a flat extension molded on the top that has a hole to hang the product. All of the paper
inserts are bright yellow. Older sets have blocks of foam rubber to hold the figures in place; newer sets have clear vacu-formed nests.
Unpainted sets and the new illuminated sets are in blister packs. They also have some unusual specialty items; for example, their "Theme Cups"
are ceramic coffee mugs packed with landscape materials and figures.
Figure sets
The list probably has many errors. It's a challenge determining which items may have been discontinued, because Noch's website is not in agreement with their price list.
Those marked OPP? are absent from both their website and their 2017 price list (which is not to say they're officially discontinued). Photos
are mostly mine, supplemented by a few from Noch, and some others scrounged from old eBay auctions.
Cat # |
Description |
W.S. |
Notes |
12720 |
On the platform |
|
laser-cut model w/figures |
12740 |
On the farm |
|
laser-cut model w/figures |
12742 |
Cattle shed |
|
laser-cut model w/figures |
12745 |
In the forest |
|
laser-cut model w/figures |
12950 |
On the platform |
|
sound system w/figures |
12955 |
Street musicians |
|
sound system w/figures |
12960 |
On the farm |
|
sound system w/figures |
13250 |
Grab bag #1 |
|
scenic mat'ls & figures |
13251 |
Grab bag #2 |
|
scenic mat'ls & figures |
13252 |
Grab bag #3 |
|
scenic mat'ls & figures |
13253 |
Grab bag #4 |
|
scenic mat'ls & figures |
13254 |
Grab bag #5 |
|
scenic mat'ls & figures |
13255 |
Grab bag #6 |
|
scenic mat'ls & figures |
16905 |
50 painted figures |
|
Conrad Electronic |
16908 |
Travelers, unpainted |
|
Conrad Electronic |
17640 |
German railway guards |
|
illuminated |
17650 |
German police, green uniform |
|
illuminated |
17651 |
German police, blue uniform |
|
illuminated |
35980 |
144 unpainted figures |
|
includes paints |
35985 |
72 unpainted figures |
|
|
36000 |
Big Set |
|
OOP? |
36020 |
Construction workers |
|
OOP? |
36021 |
Fire fighters (black uniforms) |
|
new 2018 |
36022 |
Fire fighters (orange uniforms) |
|
new 2018 |
36028 |
Warehouse men |
A2192 |
OOP? |
36029 |
City cleaners |
|
|
36030 |
Transport workers |
|
OOP? |
36031 |
Workers |
A2123 |
OOP? |
36032 |
Workers |
A2126 |
OOP? |
36033 |
Workers |
A2154 |
OOP? |
36035 |
Construction workers |
A2173 |
OOP? |
36038 |
Warehouse men |
|
|
36045 |
Strikers |
A2197 |
OOP? |
36050 |
Farmers |
|
OOP? |
36051 |
Workers |
|
|
36052 |
Chimney sweeps |
|
|
36055 |
Masonry workers |
|
|
36060 |
Hunters, lumberjacks |
|
|
36062 |
Lumberjacks |
A2160 |
OOP? |
36065 |
Gardeners |
|
OOP? |
36070 |
Service personnel |
|
|
36082 |
Traffic policemen |
|
|
36083 |
Traffic policemen |
|
|
36085 |
Postmen |
|
OOP? |
36090 |
Policemen |
|
|
36091 |
Policemen |
|
|
36094 |
Paramedics |
|
|
36095 |
German police |
A2122 |
|
36097 |
Chain gang |
A2167 |
OOP? |
36099 |
Police and accessories |
|
|
36100 |
Police and accessories |
|
replaces Craftsmen |
36100 |
Craftsmen |
|
OOP |
36104 |
Glass installers |
A2171 |
OOP? |
36105 |
Mechanics |
A2147 |
OOP? |
36108 |
Auto mechanics |
|
|
36110 |
Construction workers |
A2137 |
|
36114 |
Construction workers |
A2205 |
|
36115 |
Construction workers |
A2128 |
OOP? |
36116 |
Caretakers |
|
new 2019 |
36160 |
Sheep and shepherd |
|
OOP? |
36200 |
Welders |
A2157 |
OOP? |
36210 |
Railway staff |
|
OOP? |
36218 |
Travelers |
|
|
36219 |
Railroad personnel, unpainted |
|
Conrad Electronic |
36220 |
Travelers |
A2135 |
|
36225 |
Travelers |
A2210 |
|
36226 |
Business travelers |
|
|
36229 |
Passengers, unpainted |
|
Conrad Electronic |
36235 |
Travelers |
A2121 |
OOP? |
36240 |
Passengers |
|
|
36241 |
Passengers (no legs) |
|
|
36242 |
Passengers |
|
|
36245 |
Farewells |
A2193 |
|
36248 |
Homecoming |
|
OOP? |
36265 |
German railway officials |
|
|
36275 |
Rangers |
|
new 2018 |
36276 |
Construction crew |
|
|
36277 |
Track crew |
|
new 2017 |
36279 |
Shunters |
|
new 2019 |
36280 |
Railroad personnel |
|
|
36281 |
Steam engine drivers |
|
new 2017 |
36282 |
Engine drivers, switchmen |
|
|
36285 |
Train personnel |
A2131 |
|
36286 |
Porters |
A2211 |
|
36425 |
Pedestrians |
|
OOP? |
36430 |
Sitting passengers |
|
OOP? |
36435 |
Joggers/mailman/dogs |
A2143 |
OOP? |
36440 |
Seated travelers |
|
OOP? |
36450 |
Fat people |
|
OOP? |
36451 |
Fat people |
A2130 |
OOP? |
36460 |
Villagers |
|
OOP? |
36478 |
Passers-by |
|
|
36479 |
Passers-by |
|
|
36485 |
Pedestrians |
A2124 |
OOP? |
36488 |
Pedestrians |
A2189 |
OOP? |
36510 |
Lovers |
A2133 |
|
36521 |
Pedestrians |
A2156 |
OOP? |
36530 |
Seated persons |
A2134 |
|
36532 |
Seated persons |
|
|
36533 |
Seated persons |
|
|
36535 |
Seated persons |
A2129 |
|
36537 |
Seated persons |
A2190 |
OOP? |
36540 |
Seated persons |
A2206 |
|
36545 |
Rebels |
A2136 |
OOP? |
36550 |
Senior citizens |
A2132 |
OOP? |
36551 |
Senior citizens |
A2201 |
OOP? |
36555 |
Hoboes |
A2138 |
OOP? |
36560 |
Toilet stories |
|
|
36561 |
Pee break |
|
new 2019 |
36563 |
Street musicians |
|
|
36566 |
Family trip |
|
|
36570 |
Shoe shiners |
A2176 |
OOP? |
36571 |
Photographers |
|
|
36580 |
Music band |
|
|
36581 |
Music band |
|
|
36586 |
Gardening |
A2204 |
|
36588 |
Family at the barbeque |
A2209 |
OOP? |
36590 |
Parents and children |
|
|
36593 |
Barbeque party |
|
new 2019 |
36610 |
Gardeners |
|
|
36614 |
Wine growers |
|
|
36615 |
Beekeepers |
A2178 |
OOP? |
36620 |
Farmers |
|
|
36622 |
Farmers |
A2152 |
|
36624 |
Dairy farmers |
A2166 |
|
36625 |
Field workers |
|
OOP? |
36629 |
Farmers |
|
|
36630 |
Riders |
A2159 |
|
36634 |
Stable work |
|
|
36711 |
Farm animals |
A2202 |
|
36712 |
Pigs |
A2139 |
|
36713 |
Barnyard animals |
A2142 |
|
36715 |
Dogs and cats |
A2140 |
OOP? |
36717 |
Dogs |
|
new 2018 |
36720 |
Brown cows |
|
OOP? |
36721 |
Black and white cows |
|
|
36722 |
Dark brown cows |
|
|
36723 |
Brown and white cows |
A2144 |
|
36730 |
Deer |
|
|
36731 |
Hunters and deer |
|
new 2017 |
36735 |
Deer |
A2185 |
OOP? |
36739 |
Deer, unpainted |
|
Conrad Electronic |
36741 |
Weekly market |
|
OOP? |
36745 |
Forest animals |
|
|
36750 |
Shepherd and sheep |
|
|
36761 |
Horses |
A2141 |
|
36770 |
Bears |
A2186 |
OOP? |
36809 |
School children |
|
new 2017 |
36811 |
Children playing |
A2198 |
|
36812 |
School class |
|
OOP? |
36815 |
Children playing |
A2182 |
|
36818 |
Children in snow |
A2183 |
OOP? |
36819 |
Children in snow |
|
new 2018 |
36828 |
Skiers |
|
|
36831 |
Ice skaters |
|
OOP? |
36839 |
Rock band |
|
|
36841 |
Bathers |
|
|
36843 |
Nudists |
|
|
36851 |
Sunbathers |
|
new 2019 |
36855 |
Weekend joy |
A2212 |
OOP? |
36861 |
Love story |
|
OOP? |
36865 |
Funeral service |
A2127 |
OOP? |
36870 |
Wanderers |
|
|
36871 |
Mountaineers |
|
|
36874 |
Mountain hikers |
|
|
36876 |
Camping |
|
new 2019 |
36878 |
Camping trip |
A2199 |
OOP? |
36880 |
Tennis |
|
OOP? |
36894 |
Fishing |
A2215 |
OOP? |
36895 |
Fishing |
A2179 |
OOP? |
36896 |
Bicycle riders |
|
OOP? |
36898 |
Cyclists |
|
|
36901 |
Motorcycles & riders |
|
|
36904 |
Motorcyclists |
|
|
36905 |
Motorcyclists |
|
|
36910 |
Scooter riders |
|
|
36926 |
Toy shopping |
|
new 2018 |
36951 |
Sex in bed |
|
adult series |
36952 |
Sex on sofa |
|
adult series; OOP? |
36953 |
Sex on desk |
|
adult series |
36959 |
Ladies of the night |
|
|
36965 |
Football team, white |
|
new 2017 |
36967 |
Football team, red |
|
new 2017 |
36990 |
Advent calendar |
|
with 28 figures |
37070 |
30 figure economy megaset |
|
new 2017 |
37071 |
30 figure economy megaset |
|
new 2017 |
37104 |
Pedestrians |
|
XL set; OOP? |
37105 |
24 waiting passengers |
|
XL set |
37106 |
At work |
|
XL set; OOP? |
37107 |
24 workers |
|
XL set; OOP? |
37160 |
Herder and 25 sheep |
|
XL set; OOP? |
37161 |
27 cows |
|
XL set |
37163 |
Cows |
|
XL set; OOP? |
37165 |
Deer |
|
XL set; OOP? |
37166 |
Farm animals |
|
XL set; OOP? |
37700 |
Horse and cart |
|
OOP? |
37701 |
Brewery carriage |
|
|
37703 |
Hay wagon |
|
OOP? |
37718 |
Horse and cart with barrel |
|
OOP? |
37750 |
Tractor |
|
|
37802 |
Family fishing trip |
A2203 |
|
37805 |
Canoe and paddlers |
|
|
37808 |
Canoes |
A2200 |
OOP? |
37809 |
Kyacks |
|
|
37815 |
Boaters |
|
|
37822 |
Fishing boat |
|
|
38100 |
Passengers |
|
"hobby" series |
38101 |
Pedestrians |
|
"hobby" series |
38115 |
Passengers |
|
"hobby" series |
38116 |
Passengers |
|
"hobby" series |
38130 |
Sitting people |
|
"hobby" series |
38131 |
Sitting people |
|
"hobby" series |
38401 |
60 figure megaset |
|
"hobby" series |
38402 |
60 figure megaset |
|
"hobby" series |
63616 |
Laser-cut farmhouse with cows |
|
|
75118 |
190 figure megaset |
|
packed in a plastic jug |
75128-1 |
Theme cup - shepherd |
|
limited availability |
75128-2 |
Theme cup - workers |
|
limited availability |
75128-3 |
Theme cup - station stop |
|
limited availability |
75128-4 |
Theme cup - forest animals |
|
limited availability |
75133-01 |
Crafting box - construction site |
|
limited availability |
75133-02 |
Crafting box - in the garden |
|
limited availability |
75133-03 |
Crafting box - woodworking |
|
limited availability |
75133-04 |
Crafting box - park scene |
|
limited availability |
75136-01 |
20th Anniv. Jubilee - at the station |
|
limited availability |
75136-02 |
20th Anniv. Jubilee - seated |
|
limited availability |
75136-03 |
20th Anniv. Jubilee - animal world |
|
limited availability |
|
|
Scenes
Noch has discontinued this entire line, and it's just as well: they were of poor quality and low value for the money. Not to mention their
inconsistency: often it seemed as though they included random figures, and likewise some of the details changed.
Note that
over time the blister packages become yellow and brittle, and the glue holding the figures in place dries out and lets loose, so today some of them look like a wreck. Packaging design has gone through at least four versions. Their horse-drawn carts are very similar to those from Roskopf.
The list is definitely incomplete; I've been reconstructing it based on whatever old stock
I've found online, cross-referenced with a couple of old catalogs. Photos are a mix of mine and some scrounged from old eBay auctions.
Where to Buy
Noch products are readily available worldwide; discontinued items are often found on eBay.
Copyright © 2017-2020 by David K. Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Corrections and contributions greatly appreciated. Thank you! |