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

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

Clear and cardboard tubes, arrr, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, motor mount and fins. Well, blow me down!

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

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. Well, blow me down! Avast! After fightin' with mine, arrr, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Ahoy! Aye aye! Fit is good and straight. Well, arrr, 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. Arrr!

No special tools needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, ya bilge rat, 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. Ya scallywag!

On a D12-5, matey, matey, t' flight was slow, me hearties, low and okay. Well, blow me down! Don't know if t' slight veerin' be due t' t' wind or t' payload. Well, blow me down!

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

CONS: As some have said, ya bilge rat, arrr, me bucko, t' Sidewinder is "under leveled", this on is way "over leveled". Why it's nay an E2X I have no idea. Avast! Overall assembly was no more difficult than t' Stingray or Skywinder. Arrr!

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5