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

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. Aye aye! All parts present. Arrr! None broken. Well, blow me down!

Clear and cardboard tubes, me bucko, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, matey, motor mount and fins. Begad!

Instructions: Easy t' follow, me hearties, usual decent illustrations in good order. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! No templates needed. Well, blow me down!

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

No special tools needed. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, me hearties, arrr, thar be only one for every other fin. Aye aye!

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! Avast!

On a D12-5, me hearties, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Avast!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Good flyer. Arrr!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5