Noch offers a range of self-contained sound modules. Here and on the next page George Dent and Peter Marriott go rustic and try out a pair of agricultural-themed packs. FARMYARD SOUNDS

Noch offers various scenic sound module sets, each pack containing a related set of ‘HO’ scale figures. There’s a set to suit many different urban and rural scenarios, The street musician set features a jaunty barrel organ player and other buskers, the fire brigade set sports the alarming sound of the station receiving an emergency call and a set of firefighters, while the church set includes a priest and his small congregation, accompanied by a melodious peel of church bells. For a grittier atmosphere, there are a few industrial and construction-themed sets, again including figures and a selection of banging, drilling and digging sounds. There’s also a set tailored for a station platform, with a host of uniformed staff and the sounds of bustling passengers, steam trains and announcements. Not surprisingly, given their origin, all spoken sound elements are in German, with short audio clips available on Noch’s website. Away from the townscape, Noch also offers a range of rural sound modules and figure packs and Peter trialled the ‘On the Farm’ pack, featuring a cacophony of farmyard sounds, such as mooing cows, cackling ducks and geese, plus the gentle ‘baas’ of sheep, all to an idyllic backdrop of birdsong. A range of animals is supplied, along with human farm workers, although there are only animal sounds to be heard. Installation of the sound modules is straightforward, with the loudspeaker and circuitry supplied pre-wired, although the cables are very short and will need to be extended in order to reach a power source. Full instructions are provided, though it’s simply a matter of connecting the two cables to a 16V AC or DC power source, such as an accessory output on a controller.

Suitable for DC or DCC layouts, there are no switching or control options provided; once the cables are connected to the power source, the sounds begin. Therefore, adding an on/off toggle switch to the positive (red) power feed cable is recommended. Hiding the compact loudspeaker and circuit board is simply a matter of hiding them beneath a building or other nearby structure, or under the baseboard itself. A pair of mounting screws is provided for the speaker and it’s a good idea to maintain easy access to the modules for maintenance purposes. With plenty of scenarios to choose from, these packs offer a very quick and easy route to adding sound effects to your layout. Each set offers relatively good value for money, especially as a handful of appropriate human or animal figures are supplied. Additionally, a limited range of sound effect/figure packs is also available for ‘TT’ and ‘N’ layouts. For more information on all of Noch’s sound modules, see: www.noch.com/en