Values lost?

Hi,

I am trying to optimize code re-usage but have run into the problem of any values set in the inspector are being read as zero. The code in question should be a base class with the most simple implementation of all common stats and methods and a sub class with properties and methods specific to an asteroid (that you wouldn't find on a fighter etc).

I put the sub class on a game object and the debug log reads -50 where it should read 50. removing the subtraction at the start of the sub class, it then reads 0. Any help would be great.

 public class BaseStats : MonoBehaviour {
 
     // ** settings ** //
     // ** bar stats ** //
     public float defaultHealth = 100f;
     public float defaultRegen = 2.5f;
     public float defaultArmour = 100f;
     public float defaultRepair = 2.5f;
 
     // ** quals ** //
     public int qualification = 0;
 
     // ** collected values ** //
     protected StatValue health;
     protected StatValue regen;
     protected StatValue armour;
     protected StatValue repair;
 
     // Use this for initialization
     void Start () 
     {
         // Create struct values for each stat that needs them. Created here because they collect values from the inspector.
         health = new StatValue(defaultHealth,qualification);
         regen = new StatValue(defaultRegen,qualification);
         armour = new StatValue(defaultArmour,qualification);
         repair = new StatValue(defaultRepair,qualification);
     }
 // methods follow

And the second class

 using UnityEngine;
 using System.Collections;

 public class AsteroidStats : BaseStats {

 // Use this for initialization
 void Start () 
 {
     health.currentStat -= 50;
 }
 
 // Update is called once per frame
 void Update () 
 {
     // replenish statbars
     replenlenishStat(health,defaultHealth,regen.currentStat);
     replenlenishStat(armour,defaultArmour,repair.currentStat);
     Debug.Log(health.currentStat);
 }

}

A stat value is a struct which creates current, bonus and experience values for each default stat as well as implementing common methods.