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

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

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

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

 6E. Tie shock cord from t' Banshee t' t' installed shock cord with a double knot. Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. Avast! IGNORE.

 8. Aye aye! Blimey! IF DESIRED.

 9. IGNORE.

Banshee - EST2132 (82110, 5-96)

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

1A. Avast! IGNORE.

 1C. Ya scallywag! Blimey! IGNORE.

 2B. Well, blow me down! 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. Avast! Avast! Blimey! Sand t' inside upper portion o' t' engine mount t' size. Ahoy! Blimey! Use a spent engine (NOT a yellow spacer tube) t' test for fit. Avast! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! IGNORE.

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

6. Ahoy! IGNORE.

 8. IF DESIRED.

 9. Arrr! Avast! REPLACE WITH: Tape t' booster and upper stage engines together with CELLOPHANE TAPE. Arrr! Do NOT use maskin' tape. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Be sure t' NOZZLE end o' t' upper stage engine is joined with t' OPEN end o' t' booster engine. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Slide t' engine assembly into t' StingRay's engine mount. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' engine clip will NOT engage; this is normal. Ahoy! Slide t' booster stage over t' booster engine, matin' t' StingRay's engine retainin' clip with t' slot in t' booster. Aye aye! Check alignment and fit. Aye aye! Begad! If fit is loose, arrr, me hearties, me bucko, 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, matey, add t' maskin' tape t' only one side o' t' booster engine t' correct. Ya scallywag! Once t' booster is properly installed, arrr, ya bilge rat, insert t' appropriate igniter in t' booster engine.

Recommended engines:

 Booster: B6-0 (first flight), C6-0
Upper stage: A8-5 (first flight), me bucko, ya bilge rat, B4-6, me bucko, B6-6, 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, and still fly t' StingRay as a single stage rocket. Avast! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. (T' Banshee's nose cone is heavier than t' Stinray's, shiver me timbers, addin' some much-needed stability.)

What t' Expect

Durin' staging, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 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. Avast! This slows it dramatically, shiver me timbers, 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. Arrr! Well, blow me down! 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, ya bilge rat, twelve inch 'chute. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."