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

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. Well, blow me down! Arrr! None broken. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, me bucko, me hearties, usual decent illustrations in good order. Ya scallywag! Arrr! 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! Aye aye! Blimey! Just makin' a tip on t' shock cord does nay ensure easy insertion into t' coupler. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! After fightin' with mine, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Fit is good and straight. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Avast, me proud beauty!

No special tools needed. Arrr!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, me hearties, 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 be slow, low and okay. Aye aye! Don't know if t' slight veerin' be due t' t' wind or t' payload. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5