Introduction

Honau Bahnhof (Honau Station), item 66007, is a new HO model from NOCH. It is part of their Laser-Cut range of models:

…made from special, high quality, stable, DIN certified and age resistant NOCH laser cardboard.

Honau Station is a multi-media kit, with components of cardboard, paper, acetate sheet, and injection-molded styrene.

NOCH includes a detailed history of Bahnhof Honau on the model’s webpage at the NOCH website. This architectural treasure was built in Württemberg for the Swabian Railway. This portion of the Swabian Railway was known as the Echazbahn. It connected Reutlingen and Münsingen and was finished in 1893. Bahnhof Honau features a Swabian architecture emphasizing half-timbered construction above a stucco ground floor, and became an architectural prototype for standard stations along the Echazbahn.

The Kit

NOCH packs the kit in a lightweight one-piece box that opens at the top and locks with tabs. Making good use of their resources, this universal box with standard NOCH box art has the kit label taped around it. On the back are images of the model and the model in a diorama, a dimension diagram, multilingual descriptions, and contact information.

Inside are several plastic bags holding the 28 sheets of NOCH's special laser cardboard (NOCH refers to them as "plates"), sprues of a plastic gutter set, a clear sheet for window material, and printed paper window dressing. A plastic rod is loose in a bag. NOCH numbers 150 individual parts, of which several have multiple pieces. Those add another 110 parts, excluding the 16 printed paper pieces, and the styrene pole. That makes 277 parts by my count. Each part is held in place by hair-thin attachment points. Parts mate to each other via a tab and slot method.

NOCH includes many signs for the facility on the inside of the box sides. They are printed in HO, TT, and N scales.

NOCH also includes a 20-gram tube of special transparent 4-minute curing glue by Uhu.

A pair of instructional booklets guides you through assembly in five languages:

• Dutch
• English
• French
• German
• Spanish

Additionally, NOCH provides you with a PDF of the instructions on their website.

Structure

Looking at the photos of the sheets/plates, you probably noticed many parts that look very similar. If you have not assembled a model in this media before, the walls are built with multiple layers. The inner wall will have window detail cut into it. Then the outer wall will add depth to the window and door openings. Finally, trim will be added as a separate layer.

Those layers create a very sturdy structure.

When complete this model occupies the following space:

Length: 11 in (280.00 mm) = 80 feet 9 inches
Width: 6 19/64 in (160.00 mm) = 46 feet 8 inches
Height: 5 29/32 in (150.00 mm) = 42 feet 10 inches

Details

Detail includes both texture and special parts. High-quality texture sheets are entirely engraved by laser. A complex laser beam machining process removes material and thus creates a realistically structured surface. The represented structure was built with six main materials:

1. Stucco
2. Cobblestone
3. Timber
4. Tar Paper
5. Tile
6. Stone

Instead of trying to describe the effects I offer you photographs. I find the texture to be effective, especially the stone work.

Part detailing is also impressive. For instance, doors have panel and peephole detail zapped into them; look at the window and door exterior detail: trim, jambs, and framing. Very fine circled star wood working trim has been lased into sheet. All those thin battens are cut as larger sheets. A definite time saver!

Instructions and painting

No painting is required. All parts are pre-colored. The roof tiles are painted at the factory. This does not preclude modelers from painting the parts if they want to personalize the model. I have painted NOCH pressboard with acrylics and it has not deteriorated. Just keep in mind that if you choose to paint the siding or framing, paint both sides or the pieces may warp.

Two professionally designed instruction booklets are included:

1. Preparatory Works
2. Main Building with Outbuildings

Book 1 consists of 36 steps and book 2 has 77 steps. They are illustrated with sharp black-and-white line art and also with CAD halftone graphics. Text is spare and only a few parts are identified by name. The majority are identified only by number. Fortunately, NOCH presents the "sprues" and parts in the first pages of each booklet, and they are identified by number. Two symbols indicate "glue this" or "cut here." Curiously, scissors are shown instead of a knife. Unlike previous kits, these booklets do not include pages for the modeler to write notes.

Conclusion

Bahnhof Honau is an impressive station in real life and this model captures it authentically. NOCH laser work is highly developed and the level of precision and detail is amazing - crisp parts are sharply cut for a high parts count. Detail is amazing. The instruction booklets are very professional and clear. I am happy NOCH includes a big tube of Uhu glue.

If this model assembles as well as other NOCH Laser-Cut buildings, then it should be a quick, enjoyable building process. A beautiful model should be the result. I have been very impressed with the models in this line, from large industrial buildings, to small bee houses.

I do not have any meaningful complains about this model and I look forward to assembling it. I happily recommend it.

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