T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. It's appearance is reminiscent o' many ship-to-air missiles like t' Talon. Begad! Blimey! It's nay t' cheapest two stager you can buy, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but it sure does look cool. Avast! Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! (I've left t' decals off mine, shiver me timbers, but it would probably look neat with them applied, shiver me timbers, 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, me hearties, follow t' Estes instructions for both rockets, me hearties, ya bilge rat, EXCEPT WHERE MODIFIED HERE.

NOTE: Drawings are nay t' scale. Ya scallywag! Follow t' dimensions given in t' instructions. Do nay scale drawings.

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

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

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

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

 7. Begad! IGNORE.

 8. IF DESIRED.

 9. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, 5-96)

0. Begad! Cut t' Banshee body tube in half, 3" from t' fin end. Avast! Begad! T' fin end will become t' booster stage, matey, and t' remainin' body tube will become t' payload section.

1A. IGNORE.

 1C. Ya scallywag! Blimey! IGNORE.

 2B. Begad! Attach t' LOWER LAUNCH LUG ONLY.

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

 4C. IGNORE.

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

6. IGNORE.

 8. Begad! Blimey! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

 Booster: B6-0 (first flight), matey, C6-0
Upper stage: A8-5 (first flight), shiver me timbers, B4-6, B6-6, me bucko, 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. Blimey! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. Well, blow me down! (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. This slows it dramatically, ya bilge rat, and it will come back quickly. Begad! Your booster stage tracker will have plenty o' time t' recover it and still enjoy t' upper stage flight. On a C6-0/C6-7 combination with no payload, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, matey, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. Begad! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."