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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 9. IGNORE.

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

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

1A. IGNORE.

 1C. IGNORE.

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

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

 4C. Ahoy! IGNORE.

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

6. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

 8. Begad! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

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

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

What t' Expect

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