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

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

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

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

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

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

 6E. Blimey! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! IGNORE.

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

 9. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! IGNORE.

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

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

1A. Avast! Blimey! IGNORE.

 1C. IGNORE.

 2B. Ya scallywag! Attach t' LOWER LAUNCH LUG ONLY.

 3. Aye aye! 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. 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. Begad! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Ya scallywag! Blimey! IGNORE.

 5. Ahoy! Ahoy! REPLACE WITH: Glue t' payload section t' t' StingRay's tube coupler. Aye aye! 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. Ya scallywag! If fit is loose, add a layer o' maskin' tape t' t' nose cone shoulder t' get a good, tight fit. (see diagram below)
 

6. IGNORE.

 8. Arrr! IF DESIRED.

 9. Avast! REPLACE WITH: Tape t' booster and upper stage engines together with CELLOPHANE TAPE. Avast! Do NOT use maskin' tape. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Be sure t' NOZZLE end o' t' upper stage engine is joined with t' OPEN end o' t' booster engine. Ahoy! Slide t' engine assembly into t' StingRay's engine mount. Ya scallywag! T' engine clip will NOT engage; this is normal. Blimey! Slide t' booster stage over t' booster engine, matin' t' StingRay's engine retainin' clip with t' slot in t' booster. Begad! Ya scallywag! Check alignment and fit. Avast, me proud beauty! If fit is loose, shiver me timbers, me hearties, remove t' booster stage and add some maskin' tape t' t' booster engine until a good, tight fit is achieved. If alignment is incorrect, me hearties, add t' maskin' tape t' only one side o' t' booster engine t' correct. 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), me bucko, B4-6, me hearties, B6-6, ya bilge rat, 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, shiver me timbers, and still fly t' StingRay as a single stage rocket. Ya scallywag! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. (T' Banshee's nose cone is heavier than t' Stinray's, addin' some much-needed stability.)

What t' Expect

Durin' staging, me hearties, t' StingRay's motor clip will engage, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 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, shiver me timbers, 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. Well, blow me down! On a C6-0/C6-7 combination with no payload, me bucko, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. Begad! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."