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

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

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

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

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

6B. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Push t' loop though eye o' t' TUBE COUPLER.

 6E. Avast, me proud beauty! 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! Begad! IGNORE.

 8. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! IF DESIRED.

 9. Avast! Blimey! IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, me hearties, 5-96)

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

1A. IGNORE.

 1C. Avast! 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. Begad! Aye aye! (see diagram at right) This slot will accommodate t' upper stage engine retainin' clip. Blimey! Avast! Sand t' inside upper portion o' t' engine mount t' size. Begad! Use a spent engine (NOT a yellow spacer tube) t' test for fit. Arrr! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Begad! IGNORE.

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

6. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

 8. Avast, me proud beauty! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

 Booster: B6-0 (first flight), ya bilge rat, C6-0
Upper stage: A8-5 (first flight), shiver me timbers, B4-6, B6-6, arrr, C6-7

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

What t' Expect

Durin' staging, t' StingRay's motor clip will engage, kickin' t' booster out o' t' upper stage engine's plume, and puttin' one heck o' a spin on it. Aye aye! Blimey! This slows it dramatically, me bucko, 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. Ahoy! On a C6-0/C6-7 combination with no payload, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."