Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Begad! Ya scallywag! Lots o' room. Well, blow me down!

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

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

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

Ease o' build: Do make sure t' pay attention t' t' lug alignment when gluin' t' coupler. Well, blow me down! 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. Blimey! Aye aye! Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Fit is good and straight. Ahoy! 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.

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, shiver me timbers, 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.

On a D12-5, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Aye aye! Aye aye! Don't know if t' slight veerin' be due t' t' wind or t' payload. Begad! 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! Well, blow me down! As with most Estes models, arrr, ya bilge rat, it needs a longer shock cord. No damage. Blimey! Begad! A little too much driftin' for my taste. Blimey! Ya scallywag! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Good flyer. Avast! Ya scallywag!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5