34 replies to this topic

[Coop]

I owned an original ArrowStorm last year, before I took a break from Nerf, and loved it. Sadly, I sold it and have been hunting for one ever since I started modding again. I saw in the awareness thread Air Zone had a remake out, so I went to TRU and picked one up for only $20. This is the basic modification of the new Air Zone Arrow Storm.

Very similar to the old version.



On to the modding...

First, open it up. Nothing too tricky here, just open up the small grip first. Be sure to understand the orientation of the two pieces and their springs in this part.


Next, you open up the rest of the shell. The spring is a bit larger than it should be, so it pops up and can mess with the orientation of the internals. NOTE: The top piece with a spring near the turret is oriented incorrectly. DO NOT use this picture as an exact guide.


Even the turret advancing system is the same as the old version. NOTE: The piece incorrectly placed is in the top of this picture.


This spring is huge. I cut an inch or so off to make the task of reassembly easier on myself


The turret is pretty simple. I chose 1/2" CPVC for my barrels, so I had to cut down the original barrels. The stock barrels are tapered, so the CPVC wouldn't just squeeze in.


So cut down your barrels and Goop them in. I didn't need e-tape, but some barrel materials may be too loose to go without it. I also sanded down the tip of the CPVC to make the rear loading a little easier. I do this with many of my CPVC barrels, but it helps more here because there isn't the room to twist the dart in.


Now, you get a dremel or a drill and cut out holes in the back to rear load. I used F_A24's method of putting a permanent marker down the barrel for the correct alignment. You need to make the holes a bit larger than needed because of the gap between the barrel and the hole. The extra room allows your thumb or loading finger to move in a little more to fully load the dart. (I widened the hole from the picture after trail and error, I just forgot to snap a picture)


Now just place everything back how it was, and you should be good to go. That top piece, yet again, is placed incorrectly.






I did have a hard time getting the turret to advance correctly and now it's to the point where I have to fire slowly or it just rotates too much. Overall it's a nice blaster, but it's not built as well as the original. It also makes a horrid ratchet noise while firing, which kind of scares me...

And yes, this is pretty much the same write-up I did for the original, but I figured it would be good to get some internal pictures of this out. I haven't seen many yet.


Ranges are 50-60's.


I'll have correct pictures up within a few days. Thanks Mr.BadWrench!

Edited by Coop, 04 March 2009 - 11:25 PM.

[Magic]

Nice, and yes it is very similar to the Nerf Arrowstorm. Good job.

[b00m13]

Maybe you could try filling in the dead space that was created by the cutting of the spring, and see if that will help the rotating problem "put a cork in it"

[Coop]

Maybe you could try filling in the dead space that was created by the cutting of the spring, and see if that will help the rotating problem "put a cork in it"

Yeah, I'll try that. The spring is placed pretty far into the plunger, so I may even get away with just putting the cut bit of spring back in. I think a cork would be a bit thin though, this spring is large in length and diameter.

[Icespartan 1114]

Very nice work. Do you think that cutting the spring down reduced ranges at all? Also the barrels look a little too long. Nice job though. Will never be as good as the original arrowstorm.

[Galaxy613]

Very nice work. Do you think that cutting the spring down reduced ranges at all? Also the barrels look a little too long.

A little long? Do you see how huge that plunger is? If he kept the spring the original length I bet you could have even longer barrels..

[b00m13]

This might work, and if it does, it'll only cost you a bolt/big screw.

[Echnalaid]

Is it even legal to call it an ArrowStorm? I got to pick one up...

[atomatron]

What is the internal diameter of the plunger tube?

I think a door stopper spring may fit in there.(18"long by 1.25"wide)

Or at least half of it..

Edited by atomatron, 03 March 2009 - 10:24 PM.

[b00m13]

Ah, damn you coop!!

Why'd you have to show me this new A.S.?

Now I'm back from TRU's site, and down 28 bucks T_T (amazing how they add 5 bucks for S&H then another 4 bucks for hidden sales taxes).

Edit: before you call me dumb for not going to the store in person and picking one up... I tried that already... my TRU store really sucks, they don't even have the AZ's Blast Bazooka, so I had to order that as well >_>

Remember how much simpler things were when you were young?
And leather jackets were actually "accepted".

Edited by b00m13, 03 March 2009 - 10:50 PM.

[Viper]

Where can I find one online? Couldn't find it at TRU website.

[b00m13]

Where can I find one online? Couldn't find it at TRU website.

Here you go dude

[Icespartan 1114]

Very nice work. Do you think that cutting the spring down reduced ranges at all? Also the barrels look a little too long.

A little long? Do you see how huge that plunger is? If he kept the spring the original length I bet you could have even longer barrels..

Oh, okay. I didn't take that into regard. Thanks for clearing that up.

[RVMVTVProductions]

Man, I was going to pick one up and try this...

Does this gun still fire on the backstroke like the original Arrowstorm (as I have read on the NerferWiki)

Thanks boom for the link (the Arrowstorm and the Blast Bazooka)

[Coop]

Icespartan_1114: The barrels are fine. If anything, I would make them longer.

b00m13: Do you mean like a spring guide that is used in airsoft? If I'm looking at your picture right, I think that will work great. The only problem I can see would be unwanted friction when the spring is released, unless I put the bolt of the other side of the stopper and had a non-threaded rod. I'll give it a shot if I can't get both parts of the spring in there when I try to fix it.

Echnalaid: If they can copy the exact design, I think they can slide with the name. And I believe the old one was one word: Arrowstorm. This version has the "Storm" as a whole new word under the "Arrow" on the box and the blaster, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

atomatron: I'll measure when I open it up again, but the OD of the spring is roughly 2.5cm, and there are little guides in the tube so there a bit of room outside of the spring.

b00m13: Well I was excited when I was told they had these! And that commercial is hilarious.

RVMVTVProductions: It fires exactly like the other Arrowstorm with the exception of the nasty ratchet crackling during the backstroke. My old Arrowstorm didn't do that.

All: Also, if anyone has an original Arrowstorm in stock condition for sale, PM me!

[VelveetaAvenger]

Remember how much simpler things were when you were young?
And leather jackets were actually "accepted".

The kid in this commercial is the epitome of cool.

[Mr BadWrench]

I just picked one up $19.99 at TRU in Manstucky Oh, didn't cut spring, no rotation problems..

Mine had a tiny hole in the plunger tube that I filled and I filled the end of the plunger head with hotglue to eliminate some dead space... there is stil WAY too much dead space for my liking..

Its REALLY loud... I need to find a way to quiet it.


Don

[Ner Commando]

Nice mod dude. That spring is huge. I would have taken it and save it for something else, but thats just me.

[Draconis]

Nice mod dude. That spring is huge. I would have taken it and save it for something else, but thats just me.

But then what would you use to power the Arrowstorm? With it being a foot long, you couldn't even use a +Bow spring or '[k25] spring, es they are only 11" long. You would have to get something else entirely.

[Mr BadWrench]

you still having problems wiht advancing?



that part is upside down, the spring goes on the bottom NOT the top so flip it over

[umpshaplapa]

Can I have a picture of where the 2 small blue pieces go inside of the gun? They fell out and I don't know where to put them.

[Coop]

you still having problems wiht advancing?



that part is upside down, the spring goes on the bottom NOT the top so flip it over

Flipped it, now it works. Thanks BadWrench! I'll edit the write-up.

Umpshaplapa: The whole blaster is blue, what parts are you talking about? And I will take more pictures when I open it next, but that may not be soon because the screws are low quality and are beginning to strip a little bit. I don't want to open it and ruin the screws just for some pictures.

Edited by Coop, 04 March 2009 - 11:19 PM.

[umpshaplapa]

you still having problems wiht advancing?



that part is upside down, the spring goes on the bottom NOT the top so flip it over

Can you show how it should look? I'm a mess.

[Coop]

you still having problems wiht advancing?



that part is upside down, the spring goes on the bottom NOT the top so flip it over

Can you show how it should look? I'm a mess.

Yeah, within a few days I'll have a few more pictures. Just pivot that piece so the spring is on the top and it's pointed at the turret. It stops the turret from over-rotating.

[umpshaplapa]

Sorry, I was being stupid. Now I'm just having the same issue you were. My turret is over rotating, and yes I did the fix the bad wrench described. I'll mess with it some more and come back if I can't figure it out.

Edited by umpshaplapa, 04 March 2009 - 11:49 PM.