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

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

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

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

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

6B. 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! IGNORE.

 8. IF DESIRED.

 9. IGNORE.

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

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

1A. Ahoy! IGNORE.

 1C. Aye aye! Blimey! IGNORE.

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

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

 4C. Avast! IGNORE.

 5. 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., nose cone) end. Avast! Blimey! Place t' StingRay's nose cone on t' other end o' t' payload section. Arrr! Blimey! If fit is loose, add a layer o' maskin' tape t' t' nose cone shoulder t' get a good, matey, tight fit. (see diagram below)
 

6. Arrr! Begad! IGNORE.

 8. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

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

 OPTIONAL: Build t' second 'chute and attach it t' t' Banshee's nose cone. Ya scallywag! You can replace t' payload section and it's 'chute with this assembly, me hearties, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and still fly t' StingRay as a single stage rocket. Blimey! Ahoy! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. Ya scallywag! (T' Banshee's nose cone is heavier than t' Stinray's, me bucko, addin' some much-needed stability.)

What t' Expect

Durin' staging, t' StingRay's motor clip will engage, matey, kickin' t' booster out o' t' upper stage engine's plume, shiver me timbers, and puttin' one heck o' a spin on it. Ahoy! Ahoy! This slows it dramatically, and it will come back quickly. 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, arrr, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."