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

Construction: Quality; have only seen this one boxed. Aye aye! Blimey! I prefer t' boxed ones - any damage on t' inside is likely t' be visible on the outside. All parts present. Begad! Blimey! None broken. Avast! Blimey!

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

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

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

No special tools needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, ya bilge rat, thar be only one for every other fin. 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, t' flight was slow, arrr, low and okay. Avast! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Well, blow me down!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5