Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Avast! Lots o' room. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, usual decent illustrations in good order. No templates needed.

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. Aye aye! Ahoy! After fightin' with mine, matey, arrr, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Arrr! Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Aye aye! Fit is good and straight. 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. Blimey! Ahoy!

No special tools needed. Arrr!

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

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 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. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

Recovery: Parachute. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! As with most Estes models, shiver me timbers, it needs a longer shock cord. Ya scallywag! No damage. Avast, me proud beauty! 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!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5