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

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

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, me bucko, usual decent illustrations in good order. Aye aye! No templates needed.

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

No special tools needed. Aye aye!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, shiver me timbers, thar be only one for every other fin. Aye aye! Blimey!

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!

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

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

Recovery: Parachute. Blimey! Begad! As with most Estes models, matey, it needs a longer shock cord. Aye aye! No damage. Avast! A little too much driftin' for my taste. Ahoy! Cut a small hole in t' 24" parachute but don't go down t' an 18" 'chute. Begad! Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Good flyer. Aye aye!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5