Warped domes on Marx 3152 Vista Dome cars

Those long domes have been warped for at least forty years. They must have warped soon after being made. I have never seen one that was not warped and I have been into Marx since at least the early 1970's.

Some of the white/short domes on the New York Central cars maintain their shape.

As far as straightening the long domes go, you could try heat from a hair drier, but that might make them curl up more, or become cloudy. You should remove them from the car first.

The best thing is just to leave them alone. If they could be straightened, someone would have done it and announced it by now.

Somebody on the Marx Train IO forum was talking just last month about making a mold for re-creating the "astrodome" roofs. I think he was trying to scare up enough interest to make a short production run. 

Plastic technology in the day just wasn't what it is today I guess ?

Probably could do a 3D printed mold, then cast them in newer more durable clear plastic. 

mackb4 posted:

Plastic technology in the day just wasn't what it is today I guess ?

Probably could do a 3D printed mold, then cast them in newer more durable clear plastic. 

Yes, it certainly wasn't. The old Daisy BB guns of the '50's and '60's with plastic stocks seem to be very hard to find with anywhere near straight plastic parts as well.

But then, these things were made as toys to be played with for a while by children and disposed of, not to be saved and collected by grown men and women who should fine better uses for their time!   LOL

George Vergamini is considering producing reproduction vista domes. He asked about the level of interest in a post on 9/1 at one of the other Facebook online pages, Marx train- trade, buy, sell. He has dome some custom cars in the past. 

I purchased one of his RPO cars to go with my Marx 3/16 NYC passenger set and the quality of his workmanship is excellent. This one is not what I purchased but similar. He left the minor finish details to the purchaser. I believe Papa Eastman bought a few of these as well. 

There is a fellow on eBay selling reproductions of the domes from AMT dome cars. His auction is number  174072353341   Maybe he has the ability to recast Marx domes? Maybe he could steer you in the right direction.

On a similar subject... Does one have to be on Facebook to access the Marx group? I would like to join the Marx group, but not if I have to join Facebook.

RoyBoy posted:

There is a fellow on eBay selling reproductions of the domes from AMT dome cars. His auction is number  174072353341   Maybe he has the ability to recast Marx domes? Maybe he could steer you in the right direction.

On a similar subject... Does one have to be on Facebook to access the Marx group? I would like to join the Marx group, but not if I have to join Facebook.

unfortunately you have to join Facebook to access their content. I believe George is probably on the Marx Train.io forum page. As a long time collector of Marx I have to say that the pricing on that buy, trade, sell Marx Facebook page is downright alarming. The kind of stuff that gets relisted on eBay for decades before the seller finally drops his price to something somewhat reasonable. Just MHO.