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

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. Arrr! Blimey! All parts present. Well, blow me down! Avast! None broken. Blimey!

Clear and cardboard tubes, ya bilge rat, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, motor mount and fins. Well, arrr, blow me down!

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

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

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, arrr, 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. Avast! Begad!

On a D12-5, t' flight was slow, me bucko, low and okay. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Aye aye!

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

Recovery: Parachute. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! As with most Estes models, ya bilge rat, it needs a longer shock cord. Begad! No damage. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! A little too much driftin' for my taste. Well, blow me down! 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! Avast! Good flyer.

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5