Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Avast! Lots o' room. Well, blow me down!

Construction: Quality; have only seen this one boxed. I prefer t' boxed ones - any damage on t' inside is likely t' be visible on the outside. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! All parts present. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! None broken. Ya scallywag!

Clear and cardboard tubes, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, motor mount and fins. Well, blow me down!

Instructions: Easy t' follow, me bucko, usual decent illustrations in good order. No templates needed.

Ease o' build: Do make sure t' pay attention t' t' lug alignment when gluin' t' coupler. Ahoy! Blimey! Just makin' a tip on t' shock cord does nay ensure easy insertion into t' coupler. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! After fightin' with mine, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Fit is good and straight. Well, blow me down! Transition is very loose and t' nose cone is extremely tight. Pretty sturdy but can see t' fins snappin' easily if it lands right.

No special tools needed. Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing: PROS: There is no finishing which is occasionally nice. Ya scallywag!

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, matey, me bucko, thar be only one for every other fin. Begad! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Flight: Easy prep as with most D motors and large tubes. Waddin' needed and t' kit uses a twist-loc retention system. Aye aye! Blimey!

On a D12-5, me hearties, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload.

One might want t' leave t' nose cone fairly tight, as me son's hot wheels popped it off on t' first flight.

Recovery: Parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! As with most Estes models, matey, arrr, shiver me timbers, it needs a longer shock cord. Arrr! No damage. Ahoy! A little too much driftin' for my taste. Cut a small hole in t' 24" parachute but don't go down t' an 18" 'chute. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Good flyer. Avast! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

CONS: As some have said, t' Sidewinder is "under leveled", matey, me bucko, this on is way "over leveled". Aye aye! Why it's nay an E2X I have no idea. Blimey! Overall assembly was no more difficult than t' Stingray or Skywinder. Ahoy!

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5