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

Construction: Quality; have only seen this one boxed. Aye aye! Avast! 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. Blimey! None broken.

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, ya bilge rat, matey, ya bilge rat, usual decent illustrations in good order. Blimey! Begad! No templates needed.

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

No special tools needed. Avast! Aye aye!

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

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. Aye aye! Blimey!

On a D12-5, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Don't know if t' slight veerin' be due t' t' wind or t' payload. Ya scallywag!

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

Recovery: Parachute. Aye aye! Arrr! As with most Estes models, shiver me timbers, it needs a longer shock cord. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! No damage. Blimey! A little too much driftin' for my taste. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Cut a small hole in t' 24" parachute but don't go down t' an 18" 'chute. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Avast! Blimey! Good flyer. Blimey! Blimey!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5