T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! It's appearance is reminiscent o' many ship-to-air missiles like t' Talon. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It's nay t' cheapest two stager you can buy, arrr, ya bilge rat, but it sure does look cool. (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. Ahoy! Follow t' dimensions given in t' instructions. Arrr! Do nay scale drawings.

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

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

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

 6E. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Tie shock cord from t' Banshee t' t' installed shock cord with a double knot. Aye aye! Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. Aye aye! IGNORE.

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

 9. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, 5-96)

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

1A. Blimey! IGNORE.

 1C. IGNORE.

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

 3. Avast! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! (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. Avast! Begad! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Ahoy! IGNORE.

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

6. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! IGNORE.

 8. Begad! Ya scallywag! IF DESIRED.

 9. Ya scallywag! Blimey! REPLACE WITH: Tape t' booster and upper stage engines together with CELLOPHANE TAPE. Do NOT use maskin' tape. Well, blow me down! 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! Aye aye! 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. Check alignment and fit. Ya scallywag! Avast! If fit is loose, me hearties, remove t' booster stage and add some maskin' tape t' t' booster engine until a good, tight fit is achieved. Avast, me proud beauty! If alignment is incorrect, add t' maskin' tape t' only one side o' t' booster engine t' correct. Well, blow me down! Once t' booster is properly installed, insert t' appropriate igniter in t' booster engine.

Recommended engines:

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

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

What t' Expect

Durin' staging, me bucko, t' StingRay's motor clip will engage, shiver me timbers, 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. Your booster stage tracker will have plenty o' time t' recover it and still enjoy t' upper stage flight. Ya scallywag! On a C6-0/C6-7 combination with no payload, I estimate t' Sting-Shee will reach an altitude o' about 1,250 feet, shiver me timbers, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."