Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Ahoy! Lots o' room. Ya scallywag!

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

Clear and cardboard tubes, me bucko, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, arrr, motor mount and fins. Aye aye!

Instructions: Easy t' follow, usual decent illustrations in good order. Avast! Ya scallywag! No templates needed.

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

No special tools needed. Aye aye! Begad!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, thar be only one for every other fin. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty!

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. Avast, me proud beauty!

On a D12-5, me hearties, t' flight was slow, me hearties, matey, 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, matey, ya bilge rat, as me son's hot wheels popped it off on t' first flight.

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Good flyer. Begad!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5