T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. Arrr! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! (I've left t' decals off mine, but it would probably look neat with them applied, me hearties, too.) It's a simple bash, shiver me timbers, matey, 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, shiver me timbers, EXCEPT WHERE MODIFIED HERE.

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

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

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

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

 6E. Ya scallywag! Tie shock cord from t' Banshee t' t' installed shock cord with a double knot. Begad! Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. Blimey! Ya scallywag! IGNORE.

 8. Aye aye! IF DESIRED.

 9. Avast! Ya scallywag! IGNORE.

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

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

1A. IGNORE.

 1C. Aye aye! IGNORE.

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

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

 4C. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

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

6. Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

 8. Blimey! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

 Booster: B6-0 (first flight), ya bilge rat, C6-0
Upper stage: A8-5 (first flight), B4-6, B6-6, me hearties, 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. Arrr! Well, matey, blow me down! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. Arrr! Blimey! (T' Banshee's nose cone is heavier than t' Stinray's, me bucko, addin' some much-needed stability.)

What t' Expect

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