T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. Begad! Well, blow me down! It's appearance is reminiscent o' many ship-to-air missiles like t' Talon. Aye aye! It's nay t' cheapest two stager you can buy, but it sure does look cool. Ya scallywag! (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, so it's perfect for young flyers.

 To make t' Sting-Shee, follow t' Estes instructions for both rockets, ya bilge rat, EXCEPT WHERE MODIFIED HERE.

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

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

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

6B. Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down! Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. Arrr! IGNORE.

 8. IF DESIRED.

 9. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

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

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

1A. IGNORE.

 1C. Ahoy! Blimey! IGNORE.

 2B. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Attach t' LOWER LAUNCH LUG ONLY.

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

 4C. Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

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

6. IGNORE.

 8. Aye aye! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

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

 OPTIONAL: Build t' second 'chute and attach it t' t' Banshee's nose cone. Aye aye! You can replace t' payload section and it's 'chute with this assembly, me hearties, and still fly t' StingRay as a single stage rocket. Begad! Aye aye! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! (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, and it will come back quickly. Avast! 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, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, me bucko, hence t' single, me hearties, arrr, twelve inch 'chute. T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."