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

Construction: Quality; have only seen this one boxed. Ahoy! Ahoy! 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. Ya scallywag! None broken.

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, arrr, usual decent illustrations in good order. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! No templates needed.

Ease o' build: Do make sure t' pay attention t' t' lug alignment when gluin' t' coupler. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Just makin' a tip on t' shock cord does nay ensure easy insertion into t' coupler. Aye aye! After fightin' with mine, me hearties, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Begad! Avast! Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Fit is good and straight. Avast! 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.

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, matey, shiver me timbers, thar be only one for every other fin.

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!

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

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

Recovery: Parachute. Avast! As with most Estes models, shiver me timbers, it needs a longer shock cord. Blimey! Blimey! No damage. A little too much driftin' for my taste. Avast! Well, blow me down! 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. Aye aye! Good flyer. Begad! Blimey!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5