Hi Sheldon,

thanks for the questions.  The foundation is actually some 1/35cale 'bricks' from Italari.  I also 'dabble' in
1/35 scale World War II armor.  The building is all matchsticks and bamboo skewers.  I did use the wrong size
matchsticks for the window and door frames.  I wasn't originally going to build the interior but I found those
table and chairs kits, so I went ahead.  The counter top is craft stick.  The building sides are all bamboo skewers
split into boards.  And, you've seen how I do the tedious shake roofs.  I gave the exterior an initial stain of
mineral spirit diluted brown shoe polish and then a couple this coats of light grey coats of thinned enamel to
give that aged cedar.
HTH

Ken

Thanks everybody for the comments, I finally finished with whistle stop cafe.  It will go across the tracks
from the water tower.
























Enjoy the pics, as usual
more to follow.

Ken

I'm back to doing this:





More to follow.

Ken

Been wondering where you were.  Nice to see you're back.

Looking forward to watching your progress.

Ken

That came out real nice !  Weathering and everything.  Perfect !
Now you've inspired ne to do something similar, and I've got a good place for it.

Ken

Reminds me of a place I used to work.  Just not so close to the railroad. 
On a couple of pics, it looks like someone is inside ?  Or is that just my poor
eyesight ?

Like all the 'small' wood pieces, can't wait to see all of it together.
Work faster !

Ken

Thanks for the MoPac book info.  I showed it to my wife (she's a retired librarian) and she said it's
been on her "Book It" (no pun intended) list for some time.  The author gave a lecture quite a while
but I missed it.

Anyway, here's another little update on my 'whistle stop'.

I had this large 'rock pile' taking up space and decided to replace it.



This is the new space



I started to fit things together





...then my usual landscaping method





...then the buildings







...and people







...more to follow.

Ken

Sure enough !  The old 'Mike and Ike' had a crossing from 'Thomue,' Mo. to 'Kellogg.' Il.

Here's the SS Ste. Genevieve pulling out of Thomure.  .



The photo was taken in the spring of 1958.  You can see that the Mississippi is up.

Connection goes back a ways to the 50's.  There used to be a branch-line here that served the Mississippi Lime Kiln.
They had an engine house and a wye upstream along the river.  My cousin and I would go up there and climb aboard.
Once in a while there was a brakeman or conductor in there having lunch and we'd have a chat with them.  Good times
for a seven or eight year-old.  MoPac is long gone but, UP does the service now.  I haven't seen a caboose (except
for a transfer) in a long time.

Hey Sheldon,  I'm in the process of adding a little 'whistle stop' for all the mine workers.  There will
be more shrubs and bushes and such.  I'm going to wait until the last step before I add any trees because
I usually destroy them somewhere along the way to finishing.  That bluff 'piece' is removable and taking it
in and out during more additions just makes them susceptible to more damage.

Tried to correct/edit the above posting but just couldn't figure out how.

Here's what should follow:

I started with a few rock outcropping and basic shape



Then more cardboard strips to support the plaster cloth



Then the plaster cloth



Then the plaster



Water coloring to rock faces and dirt color to the dird



...and finally, grass, weeds, etc.



Next, I'll be detailing that little little bit of property across the tracks.

More to follow.

Ken

Sheldon, if someone tole me that you invented a locomotive that ran on propane, and now you're producing your
own fuel in the basement, I'd be inclined to believe them.  Especially after a few beers !

That is one incredible model !

Ken

Back here with another quick update on my last photo input.  I added a bit of highlights to the previous
monotonic backdrop.  All I did was to sprinkle some lighter ground foam to the existing 'dark' background.









Notice the difference betweeb the second and third pic.  You can definitely see by the angle the 'depth' of the backdrop.

The fourth pic is of my scratch-build coaling tower.  The coal chute is also scratch-built and I believe, a bit overscale.
I may replace it with a Tichy Train Group production product.  The coal hoist bucket and rails (unseen on the back) are
also a Tichy Train Product.

More to follow...

Ken

Hey Grump, all that detail is really starting to add up.  It really looking great !

Ken

Thanks Sheldon.  I believe I got duplicate pictures up there so I'm going to have delete one.