Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Ya scallywag! Lots o' room. Avast! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! All parts present. None broken. Begad!

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

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

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

No special tools needed. Arrr! Blimey!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, matey, 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! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

On a D12-5, ya bilge rat, matey, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Begad! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Ya scallywag!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Good flyer. Avast!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5