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

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

Clear and cardboard tubes, me hearties, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, me bucko, motor mount and fins. Blimey!

Instructions: Easy t' follow, ya bilge rat, usual decent illustrations in good order. Blimey! No templates needed. Avast!

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

No special tools needed. Arrr!

Finishing: PROS: There is no finishing which is occasionally nice. Blimey! Well, blow me down!

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

On a D12-5, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Aye aye! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5