There was a post on the roundhouse.ch site from Swiss specialty shop Friho where they were offering to restore old Fulgurex diesel loks from a styrofoam/foam damaged condition, so we know that such damage can be repaired.

Whether this would involve sanding and repainting the model, which the Friho offer seened to imply, is not entirely clear.
If you bought the item recently from a dealer, you should be able to return it. At the same time, it should still be covered by some sort of factory warranty (if it is brand new).
The fact that you have applied "goo gone" may cause problems with any claim. It is always better to make official enquiries before trying any do-it yourself solutions.

3108 is not listed on the Maerklin Spare Parts list, so I can't tell if a replacement tender shell is available for this item. There are a few BR 44 models for which parts lists are available. The tender shell for 37889 for example, lists at 15 EUR.

Your best bet would be to contact service@maerklin.de and see whether they can be of assistance to you.

Regards

Mike C

Mike - thanks for the idea of ordering a replacement shell. I hadn't thought of that. The 3108 is essentially a nostalgic re-make of the classic 3047 (I think that number is correct) released for the 125th anniversary. I believe any tender shell from those early generation class 44's would work. Of course the road number is the issue. I do a lot of painting and weathering in the other model railroading I do so I could probably come up with a close match to the black and just repaint it. Worst case I could weather the loc to hide/blend things in. That's all more than I really wanted to do with this model but it is what it is. I could also return it to my dealer.

Bill - If you remember what you did please let me know.

Thanks all.

Chris

I spoke with a friend who, it turns out, years ago worked in the styrofoam industry. He explained to me that the foam is created by mixing talc, plastic pellets and a solvent under high pressure. Apparently after manufacture, there is a period in which the fresh foam off gasses a majority of the solvent. After that a small amount of solvent remains and is slowly off gassed for some weeks or months. If a product is packaged when the foam is still too fresh that little remaining solvent can off gas and damage the product, in this case my locomotive, usually by dissolving the plastic or attacking the finish. Painted products tend to protect the plastic by sacrificing the finish. In the US, some older Lionel and American Flyer cars were manufactured by coloring the plastic so no paint was required. These often exhibit spots where the solvent from the foam packaging attacked the plastic and melted or distorted it. Apparently, if they had been painted only the finish would have been damaged and the cars would have been easily repairable.

Learn something new every day.

Chris

Chris

Good idea Armando. I'm curious if thin sheet plastic would work as well... or acid-free tissue paper.

Another concern I have regarding the foam packing material is the soft foam used in the collector's tins, i.e., those Treffwagens and other special items made over the years. I once had a non-train item packed in such material that was stored for close to twenty years. When I finally opened the package, the foam had literally disintegrated, leaving behind a sticky black substance that stained the item. Although I was able to clean it off with some furniture polish, I've never forgotten the initial anguish. I check my "soft-foam" wagens from time to time to make sure a similar problem isn't taking place with them, but I often wonder if it's only a matter of time before a similar disaster strikes.

Steve