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

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

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

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

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

No special tools needed. Blimey!

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

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

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! Ya scallywag!

On a D12-5, matey, t' flight was slow, ya bilge rat, low and okay. Ya scallywag! Don't know if t' slight veerin' be due t' t' wind or t' payload.

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5