Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Lots o' room.

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

Clear and cardboard tubes, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, motor mount and fins. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

Instructions: Easy t' follow, usual decent illustrations in good order. Avast, me proud beauty! No templates needed. Blimey!

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

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.

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. Ahoy!

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5