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

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

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

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

1B. ADD: Usin' a pair o' metal shears, matey, ya bilge rat, trim t' last bend off t' engine retainin' clip. Aye aye! (see diagram at right)

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

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

 7. Begad! IGNORE.

 8. Aye aye! Blimey! IF DESIRED.

 9. Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, matey, 5-96)

0. Well, blow me down! Cut t' Banshee body tube in half, 3" from t' fin end. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! T' fin end will become t' booster stage, ya bilge rat, matey, and t' remainin' body tube will become t' payload section.

1A. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

 1C. Blimey! IGNORE.

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

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

 4C. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! IGNORE.

 5. 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. Blimey! Avast! Place t' StingRay's nose cone on t' other end o' t' payload section. Arrr! If fit is loose, matey, add a layer o' maskin' tape t' t' nose cone shoulder t' get a good, tight fit. (see diagram below)
 

6. IGNORE.

 8. Begad! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

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

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

What t' Expect

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