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

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

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

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

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

No special tools needed. Blimey! Arrr!

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

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. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5