The Company

   

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.

Cat #

Description

Notes

3288

Farm scene with goat

 

3290

Deer and well

 

3296

Man on bridge

 

3313

Pedestrian Scene

 

3315

Camping scene with musicians

 

3335

Workmen with shovels

 

3338

Farm workers at the well

 

3360

Street vendor

 

3362

Farm scene

alternate contents

3363

Cable reels and layers

 

3365

Table tennis

 

3371

Playground scene

 

3384

Workers

 

3386

Cabin scene

 

3392

Horse jump 1

 

3393

Horse jump 2

 

4356

Delivery truck with workman

formerly 3356

33200

Benches with clock

formerly 3320

33260

Rowboat with two figures

alternate contents; formerly 3326

33362

Lumberjacks

 

33270

Windsurfer

formerly 3327

33280

Garden café

formerly 3328, 3328

33360

Forestry workers

formerly 3336

33370

On the country

alternate contents; formerly 3337

33385

Biker meeting

 

33390

Wood transport

 

33493

Nature calls

 

33510

Bike trip

see 33680

33540

At the bus stop

formerly 3381, 3351, 3301

33542

Flower stand

 

33610

Phone box and pedestrians

formerly 3286, 3361

33620

Construction workers

 

33640

Tennis players

formerly 3364, 3364

33641

Tennis match

 

33680

Memorial cross

formerly 3368, 32920

33682

Foal pasture

 

33700

Campsite w/badminton players

formerly 3370

33701

Wagon with crates

 

33720

Horse riders

 

33730

Deer

 

33740

Cow pasture

formerly 3374

33750

Horse corral

formerly 3375, 3375, 3375

33760

Deer with hunter

formerly 3376

33770

Shepherd with sheep

formerly 3377

33780

Cemetery set

 

33800

Fruit stand

 

33820

At the station

formerly 3382

33830

Passengers

formerly 3383

33840

Country market

 

33880

Bathing trip

 

33890

Garden house

alternate contents

33900

Wedding

formerly 3390

33910

Christmas tree scene

 

33911

Christmas tree scene

 

33950

Timber carriage

formerly 3395

33970

Chuck wagon

formerly 3397

Where to Buy

Noch products are readily available worldwide; discontinued items are often found on eBay.

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Copyright © 2017-2020 by David K. Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Corrections and contributions greatly appreciated. Thank you!