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

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

Clear and cardboard tubes, ya bilge rat, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, ya bilge rat, motor mount and fins. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Instructions: Easy t' follow, me hearties, usual decent illustrations in good order. Begad! Blimey! No templates needed. Arrr! Blimey!

Ease o' build: Do make sure t' pay attention t' t' lug alignment when gluin' t' coupler. Ya scallywag! Just makin' a tip on t' shock cord does nay ensure easy insertion into t' coupler. After fightin' with mine, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down! Fit is good and straight. Blimey! Transition is very loose and t' nose cone is extremely tight. Pretty sturdy but can see t' fins snappin' easily if it lands right. Avast, me proud beauty!

No special tools needed. Begad!

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

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

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, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Aye aye!

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, it needs a longer shock cord. Ahoy! Avast! No damage. 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.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Begad! Ya scallywag! Good flyer. Well, blow me down!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5