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

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

NOTE: Drawings are nay t' scale. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Follow t' dimensions given in t' instructions. Do nay scale drawings.

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

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

6B. Begad! Blimey! 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. Ya scallywag! Tie t' other end t' t' TUBE COUPLER with a double knot.

 7. Blimey! IGNORE.

 8. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! IF DESIRED.

 9. Ahoy! Begad! IGNORE.

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

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

1A. Well, blow me down! IGNORE.

 1C. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! IGNORE.

 2B. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Attach t' LOWER LAUNCH LUG ONLY.

 3. Begad! Blimey! 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! Blimey! (see diagram at right) This slot will accommodate t' upper stage engine retainin' clip. Avast! Blimey! Sand t' inside upper portion o' t' engine mount t' size. Use a spent engine (NOT a yellow spacer tube) t' test for fit. Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! T' engine should slide completely though t' booster stage with slight pressure.

 4C. Ya scallywag! Avast! IGNORE.

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

6. Arrr! IGNORE.

 8. Avast! IF DESIRED.

 9. Ya scallywag! REPLACE WITH: Tape t' booster and upper stage engines together with CELLOPHANE TAPE. Blimey! Do NOT use maskin' tape. Avast! 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. Aye aye! T' engine clip will NOT engage; this is normal. Begad! Slide t' booster stage over t' booster engine, matey, matin' t' StingRay's engine retainin' clip with t' slot in t' booster. Begad! Check alignment and fit. Aye aye! If fit is loose, matey, arrr, remove t' booster stage and add some maskin' tape t' t' booster engine until a good, tight fit is achieved. Blimey! If alignment is incorrect, add t' maskin' tape t' only one side o' t' booster engine t' correct. Arrr! Once t' booster is properly installed, 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), matey, B4-6, B6-6, me hearties, C6-7

 OPTIONAL: Build t' second 'chute and attach it t' t' Banshee's nose cone. Aye aye! You can replace t' payload section and it's 'chute with this assembly, and still fly t' StingRay as a single stage rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Paint t' nose cone white t' match. Begad! (T' Banshee's nose cone is heavier than t' Stinray's, shiver me timbers, arrr, 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, arrr, ya bilge rat, and puttin' one heck o' a spin on it. This slows it dramatically, matey, arrr, and it will come back quickly. Well, blow me down! 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, hence t' single, twelve inch 'chute. Begad! T' added shock cord should prevent any "Estes dents."