I am trying to animate a ship exploding using the small explode modifier but whenever i apply the modifier in the storyboard mode, the effect is applied to all my frames not just the ones after i apply the effect. What am i doing wrong?

I havn't used the storyboard thing but in RDS I'd do that operation in the time-line window at the oppropriate key frame (time frame). There should be an option for the "stage of completion" for the effect so that you can control how fast the effect works, you will need to adjust the "completion" setting on at least two key frames, start & done.

I tried that and the same thing happened as i described above.

I just tried it in Carrara Time-Line window & it seems to work OK. Disregard the storyboard thing for creating the effect. In the time-line add the explosion property where you want it to start (move the verticle time line marker to that point first, hilight your object, go to properties window, click + to add explosion, set completion to 0%). Then move your veticle time line marker to end of explosion sequence & change the completion proerty to 100%.

I suspect the problem is in not setting a starting-point key-frame. What I've had to do is add the explosion modifier to the object at frame 1. Set the completion to zero. Move to the point you want the explosion to begin. Set completion to about 20%. Make sure a new key-frame has appeared in the time-line. Once the key-frame has appeared, reset the completion to 0%. Then, move in the timeline to where you want the explosion to be complete, and set completion to 100% (or however much you want). - Chip