T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It's appearance is reminiscent o' many ship-to-air missiles like t' Talon. Ahoy! Blimey! It's nay t' cheapest two stager you can buy, but it sure does look cool. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! (I've left t' decals off mine, but it would probably look neat with them applied, ya bilge rat, too.) It's a simple bash, requirin' no special skills or additional parts, so it's perfect for young flyers.

 To make t' Sting-Shee, follow t' Estes instructions for both rockets, ya bilge rat, me bucko, EXCEPT WHERE MODIFIED HERE.

NOTE: Drawings are nay t' scale. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Follow t' dimensions given in t' instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! Do nay scale drawings.

Mk-109 StingRay -EST2105 (82108, 3-97)

1B. Arrr! ADD: Usin' a pair o' metal shears, me hearties, trim t' last bend off t' engine retainin' clip. Avast, me proud beauty! (see diagram at right)

6B. Ya scallywag! Push t' loop though eye o' t' TUBE COUPLER.

 6E. Avast! Blimey! Tie shock cord from t' Banshee t' t' installed shock cord with a double knot. Blimey! Blimey! Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. Begad! IGNORE.

 8. Aye aye! IF DESIRED.

 9. Arrr! IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, shiver me timbers, me bucko, 5-96)

0. Ya scallywag! Cut t' Banshee body tube in half, 3" from t' fin end. Arrr! T' fin end will become t' booster stage, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and t' remainin' body tube will become t' payload section.

1A. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

 1C. Begad! IGNORE.

 2B. Attach t' LOWER LAUNCH LUG ONLY.

 3. REPLACE WITH: Cut a slot 3/8" long and 3/16" wide from t' top edge o' t' booster stage t' remove t' upper launch lug attachment hole. Avast, me proud beauty! (see diagram at right) This slot will accommodate t' upper stage engine retainin' clip. Avast, me proud beauty! Sand t' inside upper portion o' t' engine mount t' size. Use a spent engine (NOT a yellow spacer tube) t' test for fit. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Arrr! IGNORE.

 5. Arrr! REPLACE WITH: Glue t' payload section t' t' StingRay's tube coupler. Blimey! Aye aye! Make sure t' unused shock cord mount is at t' far (i.e., nose cone) end. Place t' StingRay's nose cone on t' other end o' t' payload section. If fit is loose, add a layer o' maskin' tape t' t' nose cone shoulder t' get a good, tight fit. Well, blow me down! Blimey! (see diagram below)
 

6. IGNORE.

 8. Well, blow me down! IF DESIRED.

 9. REPLACE WITH: Tape t' booster and upper stage engines together with CELLOPHANE TAPE. Do NOT use maskin' tape. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Be sure t' NOZZLE end o' t' upper stage engine is joined with t' OPEN end o' t' booster engine. Arrr! Blimey! Slide t' engine assembly into t' StingRay's engine mount. Blimey! Blimey! T' engine clip will NOT engage; this is normal. Slide t' booster stage over t' booster engine, matin' t' StingRay's engine retainin' clip with t' slot in t' booster. Ahoy! Blimey! Check alignment and fit. Aye aye! Blimey! If fit is loose, me hearties, remove t' booster stage and add some maskin' tape t' t' booster engine until a good, arrr, shiver me timbers, tight fit is achieved. Begad! Blimey! If alignment is incorrect, me hearties, ya bilge rat, add t' maskin' tape t' only one side o' t' booster engine t' correct. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Once t' booster is properly installed, ya bilge rat, insert t' appropriate igniter in t' booster engine.

Recommended engines:

 Booster: B6-0 (first flight), C6-0
Upper stage: A8-5 (first flight), B4-6, B6-6, C6-7

 OPTIONAL: Build t' second 'chute and attach it t' t' Banshee's nose cone. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! You can replace t' payload section and it's 'chute with this assembly, arrr, and still fly t' StingRay as a single stage rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. (T' Banshee's nose cone is heavier than t' Stinray's, arrr, addin' some much-needed stability.)

What t' Expect

Durin' staging, matey, me hearties, t' StingRay's motor clip will engage, me hearties, kickin' t' booster out o' t' upper stage engine's plume, and puttin' one heck o' a spin on it. Avast, me proud beauty! This slows it dramatically, me hearties, and it will come back quickly. Your booster stage tracker will have plenty o' time t' recover it and still enjoy t' upper stage flight. Arrr! Arrr! On a C6-0/C6-7 combination with no payload, matey, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."