GS Storm Buggy Thread

[Storming]

With regards to the wing mounts. I bought some clips for 50p each ( just under a dollar) the are a bit like snap pins so do away with the e-clips that get lost easily. Might be worth searching out and finding these.
I think the Fioroni rear bulkhead brace is the answer here. The front is not so easily broken.
The shock towers are a bit weak. I have bent then like a banana but a vice seems to straighten them out OK, so I kept them. Might upgrade on the new car though.

Yes I also think it's agreat buggy. These few mods and it's gonna take a real bashing before it breaks. Good advice thanks.

 

[cbreaker]

I think those are just the lower suspension arm holders? but the picture doesn't work for me.

Dynamite makes some that are really nice, and red too, so they look pretty cool. And they are cheaper!

This what you're talking about?

http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/products/description.asp?prod=DYN7807

The ones you'll get in the mail are dynamite red and machined very nicely.

 

[Storming]

I guess storm parts might be getting cheaper as the storm pro is being discontinued to make way for the Avenger?

 

[mcvickj]

Originally posted by cbreaker
I think those are just the lower suspension arm holders? but the picture doesn't work for me.

Dynamite makes some that are really nice, and red too, so they look pretty cool. And they are cheaper!

This what you're talking about?

http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/products/description.asp?prod=DYN7807

The ones you'll get in the mail are dynamite red and machined very nicely.

:bow: Those are it. I was looking for the GS Storm version but anything beats these crappy plastic ones. Thanks. :thumbup:

 

[cbreaker]

The dynamite stuff is at least as good quality as the original Storm Pro stuff, if not better. It's machined very precisely; I've been very happy with all the Dynamite stuff I have.

 

[dark10304]

Hi all! I am new to the community and recently bought a Storm RTR (bout 1mo ago). Also new to the whole RC concept... Since the purchase i have done nothing but bash. During this time the only thing that i damaged was my F/L a-arm (due to a run away into a tree / unknown reason for the runaway i have theory but will save myself the embarassment). Anyways I went to my first race yesturday and had a blast except for the fact that i never completed a race. Seems just like women there are kinks in the design that need to be worked out. Well i missed the first heat due to my obsession with Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. Plus i was not really expecting to race. I just wanted to go watch my buddy race. When i got there he was about to race. There were only 2 buggys in the race where 5 had signed up. I didnt want the day to be a bore so i was like to hell with it and signed up. #1 problem with my buggy showed itself again in the first heat i was in. Seems when i take a hard crash or land from a jump hard the batteries in my reciever case jar loose, thus my buggy comes to a complete stop... They do not actually come out of the plastic holder they just move wrong or something.. I have to take the pack out and just turn thm while still in the pack. I have experienced this a number of times before and tried in multiple ways to fix it including zip tieing the battery holder. doesn't work... About a week ago i ordered a Nihm 1100mah pack to replace that stupid device and am in hopes of seeming it early this week. Next heat i make 2 more laps and the same thing again. I guess i was just the comedy act for this race. Also i have noticed a intermittant problem with my servo horn. Is it common for that little plastic thingy between my servo and servo horn to wear so quickly? Ill just make a fast turn and the teeth in the plastic strip and the turn is locked. I have only been through 1 gallon of gas and have had to replace that plastic thinga ma jig 2 times now. BTW the servo locked in the 2nd heat as well. Ok so i ran 2 races and never finished but i still go for the main!!! I have spent the last hour on screw check, wire ties, servo horn plastic thinga ma jigs, rigga nigging my buggy to say the least. I have a broken leg, half blind, and lost my RC drivers lisence due to mental disablities. . .never the less i go on the main!! :marshall: . I make 3 rounds and all is well except it seems when my car gets near any marshall they seem to shake their head dreading to see me come around the corner. Oh no!! they say and they get ready to chase after my buggy. :devious: hehee.. anyway my pipe pops off the coupler and now my buggy sounds horrible! I thought something about flanging the pipe where it inserts into the coupler and zip tie hopeing it will hold but am unsure if this is going to work or if there are others out there that have done this? Also other Storm owners are your servos weak? seems my right turn is faster than my left and all together slow as hell. I believe servos will be my next investment! I was told High speed servos for throttle... ( http://www.ehobbies.com/1004-0522.html )and high torque for steering... ( http://www.ehobbies.com/1004-0523.html ) thats another $230 - $250 with shipping and all. . geesh thats alot of cans i have to pick up to make that kinda cash!! So in summary Storm RTR = weak servos, possible defective reciever case battery holder, and problems with the exahust bracing. All i can say for people that plan on purchaseing this buggy is make sure you go over the whole thing screw by screw and check to make sure it was assembled well. i noticed out of the box the wheels were loose. recomended first mods . . servo upgrade, exhaust flanging, and rechargeable battery install, diff oild 3/5/1 front to back.

and actually I'm thinking of ditching the flanging idea. . well maybe as a back up solution and going with the dynamite exaust. anyone had any luck with these? http://www.dynamiterc.com/Products/Detail.aspx?ProductID=DYN6612

maybe an ofna pipe?

 

[DarthRacer]

1) Battery Holder - Hmm, not sure what to say. I'm using the stock holder still and have had no problems
2) Servo spline stripping - check for binding in the steering setup - maybe you need to adjust the EPA on your radio
3) Exhaust - yes they come loose. Strong zipties are your friend. The pipe you linked would be a nice upgrade. The one piece are nice.
4) Servos - All RTRs servos regardless of manufacturer are known for being weak. upgrade when you can. The Hitec 645MG would be a nice choice.
5) Screws - as with any RTR, definately check those screws and loctite metal-to-metal connections!!! Check after each run also.
6) Diff oil - I never ran mine with just grease. Silicone oil is a must. 3/5/1 won't be a bad start.

Welcome to the hobby and RCNT!! Enjoy it.

 

[dark10304]

actually i bought a set of storm pro screws from rcscrewz.com and slowly replaceing any phillups with hex/locktite... and thanks for the warm welcome darth!

i hope to gain lots of knowledge here... just a little discouraged from the race yesturday..
what is your opinion on flanging the pipe to fit in the coupler? my radio setup confuses the hell outta me... i sat in the floor for over an hour playing with servo horns and transmitter settings with some resolution but I'm still not sure of my accuracy due to probably misunderstanding on my part. this is my radio http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/ProdInfo/Files/jrp3342-manual.pdf its the jr X3i, , does anyone know a better way to describe throttle deadband? and exponential? also i notice when i turn to the left my steering seems substantially slower than turning right. also i donot understand why i would have to set my epa to 100% that just does not sound right.... i know I'm doing something wrong!! :bow: :bow:

when i get home today i plan on reading over this walthrough and see if i can finger this thing out

http://www.twf8.ws/new/tech/tip/setup/epa.html

what about this pipe?
http://acehardwarehobbies.com/2.2/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=20_21_304&products_id=4051

believe it or not i found a couple of other posts reccomending the HTC645MG servo. i have the savage 3x2 hump pack 6v. and this will gimme 133 oz of torque. . right? do you know what comes standard in the storm rtr?

http://acehardwarehobbies.com/2.2/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42_44_46&products_id=2254

i think you may have a point. . why do i need $200+ invested in servos in a $450 buggy. . i think the hi tech will work fine for me now..

 

[DarthRacer]

Lotsa questions

1) Flanging the end of the pipe will help keep it attached to the coupler - give it a try.

2) I have the 645MGs in my Storm and Savage - high price to performance ratio - you won't be disappointed especially with the RX pack you have. I don't know what the stock servos put out for torque. i have the ARR kit so I never had stock servos.

3) The servo problem sounds like the servo is bad. I don't think it's in the radio. If you have a nice LHS they could probably test it for you. Maybe ask that friend who races to check it for you.

4) You are better off reading the manual on your radio for learning settings. I wouldn't be able to help you there since I don't own one.

 

[wiita]

dark10304,

you did just fine on the track saturday!! you were ready for every heat that you were racing in. you completed more than one lap on every heat that you raced and it was your vehicle that failed, not you. your vehicle must be able to handle the roughness of track racing before you can become a better driver.

Seems when i take a hard crash or land from a jump hard the batteries in my reciever case jar loose, thus my buggy comes to a complete stop..

that's terrible, just a bad batt box, your hump pack will fix that. and i'll also point out that you have been lucky if your buggy just comes to a stop, if your throttle is opened and the receiver dies (batteries fall out) there is nothing to close the carb with which normally equals a "run away" sound like you experienced it once at least. get that bad batt box outta there quickly!!!

as far as the exhaust coupler coming loose. this is a common problem for any two piece pipe/manifold setup. flanging both the end of the pipe and manifold then securing with good zip ties WILL correct this problem. just bend the circle of the pipe out a bit to give a lip for the zip tie to grab onto.

hitec 645mg is a fine servo for your buggy. the batt pack you purchased is a 5cell hump pack. 1.2v per battery = 6v. 133oz at 6v is more than enough to control the storm on the dirt.

do you know what comes standard in the storm rtr?

the servo? jr Z590M (Torque: 85 oz/in at 6V) and with 4AA your @ 4.8v, so you will certainly see an increase in performance with the batt's and servo upgrade.
as darthracer said, most, if not all RTR's need elec upgrades. the Storm comes with a great radio though. also, swapping the servo and using the correct "H" spine from a new horn will solve your stripping spline issue as well.

to 100% that just does not sound right.... i know I'm doing something wrong!!

100% means the action on your radio will move the servo 100% of its ability. If you find, for example that your wheels are at the lock (turned all the way) before your steering wheel (radio) is turned all the way, decreasing the exponential will correct this. otherwise, in this instance, you would be putting added stress on the servo trying to crank it past the physical steering setup turning point. essentially, setting the exponential rate is telling the radio to turn the servo horn (this much) when you make an action, i.e. turn right. on the other side, if you were to set it to 50% and 100% was required, you could assume that your radio, with a full turn of the steering wheel, will only turn the wheels on the buggy 50% in the direction of your action.

no worries, you are already on the right path to fixing your issues, before posting on here.

good luck man

wiita

 

[dark10304]

so the problem with turning left slow and not far could possibly be due to an exponential setting? and what about throttle deadband?

 

[dark10304]

Just rebuild my shocks and found one of the rear shock shafts bent. . i straightened it for now but i have a slow leak and now have to replace soon... might as well upgrade... anyone know of a place that is not out of stock on aluminum rear shocks or better for the storm... will ofna shocks work on the storm?onder:

 

[militarymaxx]

I don't have a link for these (I got them at my LHS), but I run the mugen buggy shocks on my Storm. They are unbelievable. Great performance and bullet proof built.

 

[mattyk6]

I've also heard that the Pro shocks aren't all that bad either.

 

[Dawgboy2]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=49215&item=3190126834&rd=1

I use these with great table-top and rhythm section absorbing pleasure. Seriously, you could drop the Storm from a rooftop and these shocks land soft and predictable.

I too am finding parts very hard to come by the past two weeks... eBay is the only place to get replacements for typical race worn parts... Whats up with that? Could it be that the Avenger is right around the corner? Any thoughts on the subject?

 

[dark10304]

GS

after speaking with GS seems they have had some delay in getting parts in... quite a few parts on backlog. They said eta is monday 5-3-04 then distribution to the retailers is another wait... they do invetory etc etc. . overall prolly ready by 5-10 i figure and we will see more stock in the retailers. No GS would not sale me parts directly. . i asked.

Reason for backlog? Well this is just a guess. . maybe a dumb guess but, i work in a corporate enviroment and i know its the beginning of the 2nd fisical quarter next week and budgets are rolling out so just like you spend all you cash at the beginning of the month on rent, morgage, and what not. Corporations spend all theirs at the beginning of the FYQ and are broke near the end of it... blah blah blah...

 

[StrechM]

A question for the gentlemen that post to this thread....I have an SUT....the RTR Storm converted to an mt...would you mind if I post my questions here as they arise??

 

[Storming]

I've heard reliability that the Avenger is due in July. In the UK the storm will still to be available but in the states only the Avenger, so yes they probably are depleting their spares stocks for the storm.

 

[mcvickj]

Go for it Strech. Its practically the same RC.

 

[StrechM]

Originally posted by mcvickj
Go for it Strech. Its practically the same RC.

Thanks mcvickj, I'll leave out the conversion portion of it.