Building and set up of the Bergonzoni Blast

STORM PRO

This is the building process of a GS-Racing STORM PRO with all pro's and con's found.

!Click on the pictures to enlarge!

INTRO

During my visit in Las Vegas where the Worlds 2000 were held, I talked to two persons from GS-racing.
The designer of the car and the USA sales representative Garen Hagobian. Both very nice guys and the promise was made that as soon as the "PRO" car was available (the GS Storm was there running as prototype by some top drivers) TWF8 would get one to build and review. And finally it happened. Thanks to GS-racing for keeping their promise!

With FEDERAL EXPRESS the package arrived straight from the factory in Taiwan.

When arriving home I unpacked the carton where the real thing was put in.
Nice box and if the picture can tell anything, it already did his job.

I looked on the box for more info. I found one major statement "THIS IS NOT A TOY".

No kidding, beside all standard specs of the normal Storm there were some silver shiny stickers to distinguish as this was a "PRO" version.

The box was sealed with two seals to see whether or not the box was opened. In my case it was still "FACTORY SEALED"!
The box at the outside mentioned the following items are not coming with the PRO kit: air filter, engine and muffler and all related items need to be bought separately.

I broke the factory seals and lifted the top of the box. Oohps only two cartons, a wing, a manual, decals, an antenna and a body.
Was this it? Yes!

All separate items that came in the box.

I opened the small carton and it was empty!!!
The larger carton contained all other parts but no rims, tyres and inserts.
Most PRO drivers have these items already, but novice ones have to take care for this point. The manual states that these items are not in the kit but then you have to open the box first and break the factory seal!!!!! So be warned when shopping for this PRO kit.

The user manual

One of the most important things for novice drivers is the manual.
I took the manual from the bag that also included the antenna and body decals.
Looking through the manual rapidly I found it crisp and clear and a KYOSHO/MUGEN look a like.
Better a good copy then a bad one they must they have thought in Taiwan and no one is to blame for that. The complete building is divided in 46 steps.
The manual also contains an exploded view, parts-list sorted on part number, parts-list sorted on the bags the parts are packed in and useable information about breaking in engines and adjustments.
A general set up sheet is also in the manual but you need to fill it in yourself! A overall standard factory setting sheet is not supplied with the car although through all steps in the manual some suggestions (not all) are made.
We will follow the steps in the manual during building to see if these are correct and if not we will make remarks and corrections for it.

I found a mistake in the manual that can be very confusing for novice drivers especially.
The manual states that all silicone oil is rated in "wt" weight. This is the American way of measuring oil thickness like companies as Associated and Trinity do.
The rates need to be rated in "CS" Centi Stokes or Centi Poise. The parts list states shock oil starting from 350 wt but that value must be rated in CS and not "wt". The values are right but not the extension "wt". How ever step 37 in the manual states to fill the shock absorbers with 35 "wt" shock oil. This 35 "wt" can not be compared with 350 CS as 35 "wt" we know from USA suppliers as Associated, as this is much thicker as 350 CS.
So the value must be 350 with the CS rating. See the shock page for more info about shock oil and ratings.
The suggested 350 CS is OK for the front but too thick for the rear (see step 37) for that.
Except for some spelling errors, the manual is good!

The parts

All parts come in 8 large bags. Each of these bags contains a list with the parts and other bags that need to be in and is numbered according the steps in the manual. So we have a bag labeled step1-3, 3-8 and so on.
The chassis and the body do not have a number!
According to the manual you only have to open one bag at the time when you are busy with one step.J
Parts that are left need to be used in a next step. Parts not used I put in a glass bowl.

The extra things needed

Beside the fact tires, rims, inserts, air filter, engine and muffler are not in the kit if this is your first car you need to buy the following things also to operate the car.
*transmitter& receiver
*ni-cad receiver battery (5 cells)
*two heavy duty/high speed servo's >5KG
*glowplug igniter
*starterbox
*starterbox battery
*polycarbonate paint
*silicone shock oil
*silicone differential oil
*fuel
*fuel bottle

Tools required

A handy universal 4way wrench, hexagon wrench 1.5-2-2.5-3 m/m are included!
Further you need:
Hobby knife
Needle nose plyer
Precision ruler or caliper
Philips head screwdriver number #0, #1 and #2
Hobby scissors
Wire cutter
Thread locking compound
Cyano Acrylic glue
Rubber cement
Sanding Paper

So first impression of the contents of the box, packing, manual and all parts is OK!

I have read the manual several time carefully, gathered all needed extra parts mentioned above and tools and thought:

Lets start building!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

INDEX