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

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

Clear and cardboard tubes, arrr, arrr, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, shiver me timbers, motor mount and fins. Aye aye!

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

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

No special tools needed.

Finishing: PROS: There is no finishing which is occasionally nice. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

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. Begad! Ya scallywag!

On a D12-5, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! 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, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, as me son's hot wheels popped it off on t' first flight.

Recovery: Parachute. Well, blow me down! As with most Estes models, it needs a longer shock cord. Well, blow me down! Begad! No damage. Ahoy! A little too much driftin' for my taste. 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. Arrr! Good flyer. Ahoy!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5