Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Lots o' room. Begad!

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. Arrr! All parts present. Blimey! None broken. Ahoy!

Clear and cardboard tubes, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, ya bilge rat, motor mount and fins. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey!

Instructions: Easy t' follow, shiver me timbers, me bucko, usual decent illustrations in good order. Aye aye! No templates needed. Blimey! Aye aye!

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

No special tools needed.

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, thar be only one for every other fin. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag!

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. Begad! Begad!

On a D12-5, t' flight was slow, matey, low and okay. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Don't know if t' slight veerin' be due t' t' wind or t' payload.

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

CONS: As some have said, t' Sidewinder is "under leveled", this on is way "over leveled". Well, blow me down! Why it's nay an E2X I have no idea. Begad! Begad! Overall assembly be no more difficult than t' Stingray or Skywinder. Begad!

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5