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

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

NOTE: Drawings are nay t' scale. Well, blow me down! Begad! Follow t' dimensions given in t' instructions. Avast! Begad! Do nay scale drawings.

Mk-109 StingRay -EST2105 (82108, ya bilge rat, 3-97)

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

6B. Aye aye! Avast! Push t' loop though eye o' t' TUBE COUPLER.

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

 7. IGNORE.

 8. Arrr! Aye aye! IF DESIRED.

 9. Aye aye! IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 5-96)

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

1A. Begad! IGNORE.

 1C. Ahoy! IGNORE.

 2B. Attach t' LOWER LAUNCH LUG ONLY.

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

 4C. IGNORE.

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

6. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

 8. Ahoy! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

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

 OPTIONAL: Build t' second 'chute and attach it t' t' Banshee's nose cone. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! (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, matey, shiver me timbers, kickin' t' booster out o' t' upper stage engine's plume, me hearties, and puttin' one heck o' a spin on it. Aye aye! This slows it dramatically, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and it will come back quickly. Ahoy! Your booster stage tracker will have plenty o' time t' recover it and still enjoy t' upper stage flight. Begad! Blimey! On a C6-0/C6-7 combination with no payload, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, me bucko, ya bilge rat, hence t' single, shiver me timbers, twelve inch 'chute. Ahoy! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."