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

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

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

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

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

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

 6E. Avast, me proud beauty! Tie shock cord from t' Banshee t' t' installed shock cord with a double knot. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

 8. IF DESIRED.

 9. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, 5-96)

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

1A. Ya scallywag! Blimey! IGNORE.

 1C. IGNORE.

 2B. Well, blow me down! 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. Aye aye! (see diagram at right) This slot will accommodate t' upper stage engine retainin' clip. Begad! Ahoy! Sand t' inside upper portion o' t' engine mount t' size. Arrr! Use a spent engine (NOT a yellow spacer tube) t' test for fit. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! IGNORE.

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

6. Arrr! IGNORE.

 8. Begad! Well, blow me down! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

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

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

What t' Expect

Durin' staging, 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. Arrr! This slows it dramatically, 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. Begad! On a C6-0/C6-7 combination with no payload, matey, me bucko, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, me bucko, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. Well, blow me down! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."