T' Sting-Shee is a combination o' two o' Estes more popular E2X kits into a high flying, me hearties, matey, me bucko, payload-carryin' two stage rocket. Arrr! Aye aye! It's appearance is reminiscent o' many ship-to-air missiles like t' Talon. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! It's nay t' cheapest two stager you can buy, but it sure does look cool. Arrr! Avast! (I've left t' decals off mine, arrr, matey, but it would probably look neat with them applied, too.) It's a simple bash, me bucko, matey, requirin' no special skills or additional parts, me hearties, arrr, 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. Begad! Do nay scale drawings.

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

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

6B. Arrr! 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! Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

 8. Ahoy! IF DESIRED.

 9. IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, 5-96)

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

1A. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! IGNORE.

 1C. Avast, me proud beauty! IGNORE.

 2B. Ya scallywag! 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! Begad! (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. Aye aye! Use a spent engine (NOT a yellow spacer tube) t' test for fit. Ahoy! Blimey! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! IGNORE.

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

6. Aye aye! IGNORE.

 8. Avast! IF DESIRED.

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

Recommended engines:

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

 OPTIONAL: Build t' second 'chute and attach it t' t' Banshee's nose cone. Begad! 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. Aye aye! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. (T' Banshee's nose cone is heavier than t' Stinray's, matey, matey, addin' some much-needed stability.)

What t' Expect

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