Ragg's Home Page

LORI AND OTHERS(!) HAVE BEEN AFTER ME FOR YEARS TO ADD A LINK TO THIS PAGE SO INTERESTED MODELERS CAN SEE THE PROGRESS (OR LACK THERE OF) ON MY OWN Sn3 VERSION OF THE RIO GRANDE SOUTHERN RAILROAD. I'LL START WITH A FEW CURRENT PHOTOS AND MAYBE SOMEDAY EXPAND THE PAGE TO INCLUDE A TRACKPLAN. HERE'S THE LINK (DON'T EXPECT MUCH!):

RAGG'S Sn3 RIO GRANDE SOUTHERN

After designing model railroad structure kits for other manufacturers for more than 10 years (since 1993), we decided to take the next step and purchased a laser to produce our own line in 2004, starting with the Ouray Depot in S-scale. By 2012 we had more than 50 structure kits available in HO, S, and O scales, and had designed more than 100 kits for the hobby. At that point the business had completely overtaken our lives and there was no time to do anything else. The business was 7-days a week with 10- to 14-hour days. We decided to drastically cut back our product line and only produce seven more new kits that we'd promised modelers over the years. That's where the business stands today.

In spite of the cut backs, our standards remain the same. ALL the kits in our line REPRESENT REAL STRUCTURES that either once existed or are still standing. No caricatures! We have worked to make them as accurate as possible. More than once our customers have told us the finished models are of museum quality -- something of which we are very proud.

We only use the best of materials -- no cardboard, no plastic windows or doors. All kits are laser-cut and engineered with an extensive slot and tab design for easier construction and a stronger model. The roofing shingles are always peel-and-stick and are made from a special textured paper of a thickness appropriate for the building's scale. If the structure incorporates an inner plywood core, all outer wall overlays are peel-and-stick as well as all windows, doors, and most trim. We should point out that the adhesive used with our peel-and-stick parts is a very aggressive industrial product, far different than what most modelers have worked with in the past. The bond actually becomes stronger over time.

Chimneys, finials, and detail parts are nearly always unique to each prototype, cast from new masters. Decals, door knobs, and lock plates are always included.

Our instructions also set our line apart from others. They have gained notoriety as being some of the best on the market. We feel a modeler shouldn't have to "second guess" the assembly of a fine kit. Step-by-step instructions accompanied by numerous photographs and Parts Layout Diagrams are included in each kit, as well as suggestions for adhesives, useful tools to have on hand, and paints for finishing your model.

Simply stated: WE DON'T TAKE SHORTCUTS!

Although the kits are not extremely difficult to assemble (some are easier than others!), they may be a challenge for the first-time builder. If you carefully follow the instructions, you shouldn't have any problems.

Thanks for visiting and I hope to hear from you!!

-- Joe Fuss --
....the " Ragg!"

(What's with the business's name? More than forty years ago I was tagged with the nickname "Ragg" due to certain personality traits (which have mellowed over the years). The label stuck and my friends still address me as either "Ragg" or "Raggman". I initially considered several "railroad-type" names for the business, but thought I'd have a little fun for a change, be a little less serious, and simply call it "Ragg's". The "...To Riches?" part was an afterthought and is purely wishful thinking. I'll take no offense if the next time we see each other you call out "Hey, Ragg!")

THE MANCOS DEPOT: (Only available in S-scale)

Perhaps Bob Richardson's favorite RGS depot (he built a replica of it to house his first Narrow Gauge Museum), the Mancos Depot (from Mancos, Colorado) has seldom been modeled. In fact, as far as I know, this is the first kit of the depot ever produced. Somewhat similar to the depots in both Hesperus and Dolores, this one includes the distinct "tower" feature found on the Ridgway Depot. The kit features all of our normal design features, and more, including the unique lightning rod extending from the finial. For more pictures and information, click on the above photo.

THE CRANBERRY CHURCH: (HO, S, Coming in O) OUR NEWEST HO-SCALE AND S-SCALE KITS!!!

This pretty little church is from Cranberry, North Carolina, and still stands. Cranberry, a mining town, was served by the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina (the "Tweetsie!") narrow gauge, one of the east coast's more popular lines for narrow gauge fans. The highly detailed kit builds up into a beautiful model with a small footprint. The HO model measures less than 7-inches deep and 5-inches wide. The kit includes a chimney cast to match the prototype's, beautiful laser-cut windows and trim, plus many injection molded parts made just for this kit by our friend John Socha-Leialoha. John even developed a very special corner trim for the S-scale kit. Please click on the photo, above, for more photos and information. This is one kit even your wife will have a hard time saying NO to!

THE ROSE-WALSH SMELTER: (HO, Coming in S in 2013?)

Located on the outskirts of Silverton, Colorado, the Rose-Walsh Smelter is a good representation of a small- to medium-sized facility. It's particularly appealing to model because of the outside ore bins, the elevation change between the main Ore House and the rest of the facility, the fact that it has a Blast Furnace that is so evident, the covered Receiving Shed, and last but not least, that great looking "Granulator" tower out front with its waste dump reached via the trestle. Truly an eye catching structure. The individual structures in this kit can be arranged to fit an extremely variable area. If all the structures are used, an area of approximately 5-square feet is needed. The absolute minimum depth is approximately 15-inches. See the main smelter page for more details by clicking on the photo, above. The price of the HO kit: $495 ...and well worth it, especially when you consider the number of hours it's going to take to build it! (The instruction manual has 172 photos illustrating the construction!)

One of the more popular mines to model railroaders over the last 40 years or so, the Maude Monroe (a.k.a. Hukill) Mine, located near Idaho Springs, Colorado, is, for the first time, available as an S-scale kit. Because of the fidelity to the prototype, this may be one of our most fastidious kits to assemble, but also one of our most interesting and picturesque. Having a small width of only 4¼ -inches, it requires a minimum of space. Built on level ground as the prototype, the depth can be as much as 18-inches, but it can be shortened to fit in as little as 14-inches if built on a hillside. The kit includes the tiered retaining walls, ore bin, ore bin superstructure, headframe with brace, and hoist house. Additional support structures are now available as separate kits, making it possible for you to build a complete complex. See below! Please click on the above photo for more information on the mine.

MINE SUPPORT BUILDINGS: (S-scale)

We now offer two sets of "mine support buildings" to help you develop your Maude Monroe Mine into a fully functioning business. In reality, these small structures are perfect outbuildings for any mine and can be used with other industries to add that special look to a scene -- the look that makes it CONVINCING. SET 1 includes the Change House (upper left) and the Carpenters Shop (upper right), and sells for $65. SET 2 includes the Office (lower left), Outhouse, Compressor Building (lower right), and Water Tank, and sells for $80. Click on any of the above images for more photos and information.

PRICE LIST AND ON-LINE ORDERING:

To view the items in your Shopping Cart or to Check Out, please click on the button below.

MINIMUM ORDER $25 (BEFORE TAX AND SHIPPING), PLEASE

HO-SCALE:

MODEL	KIT NO.	FOOTPRINT WITH PLATFORM	FOOTPRINT W/O PLATFORM	PRICE	PURCHASE?
Dolores Section Foreman's House, HO-Scale	DSH-HO	3½ x 5½ inches (9 x 14 cm) with rear porch	3½ x 4½ inches (9 x 11.5 cm)	$89	Purchase
Rose-Walsh Smelter, HO-Scale	RWS-HO	Not Applicable	Highly Variable: 13 x 17 inches (minimum) to 28 x 36 inches (maximum)	$495	Purchase
Cranberry Church, HO-Scale	CCH-HO	Not Applicable	5 x 6¾ inches deep (11 x 17 cm)	$125	Purchase

Even though we've greatly scaled back on the business, it doesn't feel like it here. If you were watching closely (some of you do!), my plan to produce the O-scale Dolores Section House as our next kit didn't work. With the Sn3 Symposium looming close, I decided to attend (it's always a fun gathering) and figured I may as well take a new kit along, provided it was one of the "Promised 7". So, the Section House is once more delayed, but as you can see (above), the S-scale Cranberry Church is now shipping! What's next? It's hard to say -- there's so much I need to work on (including non-railroad things). In any case, here's the remaining five kits I've promised to do (and probably WILL do!): Dolores Section House (O); Cranberry Church (O); Maude Monroe Mine (HO); Rose-Walsh Smelter (S), and the Crested Butte Depot (S). In addition, I'll be developing the Silverton Northern Depot for both myself and Bob Harr, so let me know if there's enough interest to make it a full-blown kit. Have a good summer!

MODEL	KIT NO.	FOOTPRINT WITH PLATFORM	FOOTPRINT W/O PLATFORM	PRICE	PURCHASE?
Dolores Section Foreman's House, S-Scale	DSH-S	Not Applicable	7 x 4½ inches (18 x 12 cm)	$95	Purchase
Maude Monroe (Hukill) Mine, S-Scale	HUK-S	Not Applicable	4¼ x 18 inches (11 x 46 cm) (VARIABLE!)	$195	Purchase
Mine Building Set 1, S-Scale	MB1-S	Not Applicable	Multiple buildings -- see MINEBUILDINGSsidepage.html	$65	Purchase
Mine Building Set 2, S-Scale	MB2-S	Not Applicable	Multiple buildings -- see MINEBUILDINGSsidepage.html	$80	Purchase
Mancos Depot, S-Scale	MCD-S	8 x 19½ inches (20 x 50 cm)	6¼ x 17 inches (16 x 43 cm)	$239	Purchase
Cranberry Church, S-Scale	CCH-S	Not Applicable	6 x 9½ inches (15 x 24 cm)	$150	Purchase