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

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. Arrr! Blimey! All parts present. Begad! Avast! Blimey! None broken. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

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

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

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

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

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

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. Aye aye! Aye aye!

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5