T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, ya bilge rat, me bucko, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. It's appearance is reminiscent o' many ship-to-air missiles like t' Talon. Well, arrr, blow me down! It's nay t' cheapest two stager you can buy, but it sure does look cool. Avast! Aye aye! (I've left t' decals off mine, arrr, but it would probably look neat with them applied, too.) It's a simple bash, arrr, 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, ya bilge rat, me hearties, EXCEPT WHERE MODIFIED HERE.

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

Mk-109 StingRay -EST2105 (82108, 3-97)

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

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

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

 7. Begad! IGNORE.

 8. Blimey! IF DESIRED.

 9. IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, shiver me timbers, 5-96)

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

1A. Ya scallywag! IGNORE.

 1C. Begad! Arrr! IGNORE.

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

 3. Begad! 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. Aye aye! Sand t' inside upper portion o' t' engine mount t' size. Ya scallywag! Use a spent engine (NOT a yellow spacer tube) t' test for fit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Begad! IGNORE.

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

6. Begad! IGNORE.

 8. Ahoy! Arrr! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

 Booster: B6-0 (first flight), shiver me timbers, C6-0
Upper stage: A8-5 (first flight), me bucko, B4-6, me hearties, me bucko, B6-6, matey, me hearties, me bucko, C6-7

 OPTIONAL: Build t' second 'chute and attach it t' t' Banshee's nose cone. Avast! You can replace t' payload section and it's 'chute with this assembly, ya bilge rat, and still fly t' StingRay as a single stage rocket. Ya scallywag! Arrr! 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, t' StingRay's motor clip will engage, kickin' t' booster out o' t' upper stage engine's plume, me bucko, and puttin' one heck o' a spin on it. Blimey! Aye aye! 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. 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 hearties, hence t' single, me hearties, twelve inch 'chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."