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

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

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

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

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

No special tools needed. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, matey, arrr, thar be only one for every other fin. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

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, me proud beauty! Blimey!

On a D12-5, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' flight was slow, arrr, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, low and okay. Begad! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Well, blow me down! Ahoy!

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5