Can someone identify this product? It is a Noch layout, purchased in 1989 in Stuttgart. Except for a plate with the text "Noch Modelleisenbahn," it has no markings. Thank you! NochRailroad2 by WeBMartians posted Dec 13, 2018 at 12:34 PM NochRailroad1 by WeBMartians posted Dec 13, 2018 at 12:34 PM
A Z scale layout from 1989? That should be ridiculously easy to identify, but I'm not having any luck. Looking at the furniture legs in the background makes me suspect that it's an HO scale layout. That information might make pinpointing it a tiny bit easier.
All you had to do was ask me... Noch 87040 Barenweiler. DEFINITELY Z scale. I still have the product page on my site even though the form was discontinued in 2000. One of my favorites by Noch. https://zscalehobo.com/website/noch/87040.html No way it's HO ... I see Marklin 8970 Wintersdorf station, Marklin 8971 freight shed, Noch 43960 chapel, and four Vollmer 953x/955x series buildings. Frank Daniels owner - z.scale.hobo, a Noch "top dealer" Irvine, California USA www.zscalehobo.com
But a relatively large layout for Z… nice trackplan, allows for two trains running independently, or one doing a long double lap. Check the plan here: https://media.noch.de/filestore/2/5/1/2_0b2ac1b73dd35c6/2512_02e38c4950c59fe.pdf Matt
Thank you. How I got it back to the US: After checking all of my other luggage, I was told at Flughafen Zürich that the suitcase had to be checked. I squatted down to show that it was a delicate item and SPLIT MY TROUSERS! In my underwear, in public, I stitched up everything and redressed. By that time, nobody was about. I waltzed the suitcase on as a carry-on. In New York (I was going to California via Texas), I reacquired my luggage and switched (in a rest room) to jeans. I was told I had to check the item. I showed the layout to the airline staff and was rewarded by a lady agent saying that she always wanted a train for Christmas, but, being female, had never gotten one. She gave me a pass. I made it to Texas. In Texas, I was told once again to check the item; I showed it to the lady agent who said the same thing as the one in New York ... BUT lamented that the flight being on a DC9, there was no room. DOOM! A gentleman in uniform asked me, "Are you in First Class?" I responded, "No" and he said, "You are now; we're going to play!" It was the pilot. Did you know that a DC9 can source 8-18V DC from the engineering panel? (We savaged a derelict lamp in some back office for lamp zip cord.) I acquired the transformer some months later. Unfortunately, there was some turbulence and the train kept falling off of the tracks; it was fun to try. I can't imagine this sequence of events happening today. I am debating cannibalizing the layout for tracks and such or trading it for parts.
Dito that. I'd say, loose the houses and station, leave the depot, add a few farms or the likes, pimp up the landscape a bit and start running some UP / ATSF / SP
Yeah I hear you... What I have in rolling stock is European (also nearly 30 years old and, maybe, seizing up), almost all from the original purchase. I keep going back and forth about using the set or selling it to fund what I really want: a layout design about the same size but much more amenable to automation. Any advice?
I'd sell. Collectors like me would love to have something small that can be tucked away like that. 75 x 55 CM is a perfect size to drag out occasionally. Edit: what I mean is: Keep it original...don't cut it up!!!
Commodore, Thanks for the advice to not cut up the layout. I wiped the dust from the suitcase (didn’t dare touch the layout itself) and wrapped the whole thing in a plastic bag. Dovetailing your advice, my desired design (up at AnyRail.com - I’ll post a link later) uses almost no track from the Noch - why cannibalize if the “food” is just going to be wasted. The plastic bag is just a temporary solution. I will almost certainly sell to fund the new layout (currently planned as 110cm x 60cm but maybe “shrinkable”) once I figure out just how to do that. No use having the thing sit on a shelf in the basement. Thanks
You're making the right moves. I like the 110 CM x 60 CM idea. I've got an original 1972 Marklin plexi display of that size. It's all I can do to keep from "cleaning" and replacing structures. A fresh start will be a bunch of fun! Good Luck... and Merry Christmas! Rory Blake PS The Noch only has 1 piece of 8500. Whoa!
WebMartian, this gives you an indication of possible price, your "Fertiggelände" recently sold for EURO 625 (near 700 USD) at the 'bay. Cheers, Matt
Matt, thanks for posting that! I've got a feeling on earlier z scale values. They were very expensive and a little exclusive when new. The 50 year anniversary is in 2022. That's in just a few years. I'll bet the marketplace will get CRAZY. I'm not a speculator, but I've found myself buying choice pieces. It's all about supply and demand ...and free cash! Rory
I bought the same layout on ebay as a dealer display piece about four years ago. It was dated when I bought it. It came mounted in a wood frame with a metal Marklin placard on one corner. The buildings were the Marklin American style cast models (church, factory, house, etc.) but the track layout was identical.
I think this is the one... Marklin 0510 USA Z layout ... https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/marklin-layout-0510-original-1820633013
