T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, but it sure does look cool. Avast! (I've left t' decals off mine, me bucko, me bucko, but it would probably look neat with them applied, me hearties, too.) It's a simple bash, ya bilge rat, requirin' no special skills or additional parts, ya bilge rat, me bucko, 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. Begad! Follow t' dimensions given in t' instructions. Begad! Do nay scale drawings.

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

1B. Begad! ADD: Usin' a pair o' metal shears, arrr, ya bilge rat, trim t' last bend off t' engine retainin' clip. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! (see diagram at right)

6B. Avast, me proud beauty! 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! Aye aye! Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. IGNORE.

 8. Well, blow me down! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! IF DESIRED.

 9. IGNORE.

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

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

1A. IGNORE.

 1C. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! IGNORE.

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

 3. Aye aye! Ahoy! 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! Avast! (see diagram at right) This slot will accommodate t' upper stage engine retainin' clip. Sand t' inside upper portion o' t' engine mount t' size. Well, blow me down! 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. Ahoy! IGNORE.

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

6. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

 8. Ya scallywag! IF DESIRED.

 9. REPLACE WITH: Tape t' booster and upper stage engines together with CELLOPHANE TAPE. Well, blow me down! 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. Ahoy! Slide t' engine assembly into t' StingRay's engine mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' engine clip will NOT engage; this is normal. Begad! Well, blow me down! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! If fit is loose, remove t' booster stage and add some maskin' tape t' t' booster engine until a good, arrr, tight fit is achieved. Blimey! Begad! If alignment is incorrect, arrr, add t' maskin' tape t' only one side o' t' booster engine t' correct. Avast, me proud beauty! 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), arrr, B4-6, B6-6, matey, C6-7

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

What t' Expect

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