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

Construction: Quality; have only seen this one boxed. Blimey! Blimey! I prefer t' boxed ones - any damage on t' inside is likely t' be visible on the outside. Begad! Ya scallywag! All parts present. None broken. Arrr!

Clear and cardboard tubes, lots o' plastic parts includin' transition, motor mount and fins. Blimey! Blimey!

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

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

No special tools needed. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5