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

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. All parts present. None broken.

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, shiver me timbers, 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. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! Just makin' a tip on t' shock cord does nay ensure easy insertion into t' coupler. After fightin' with mine, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Blimey! Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Arrr! Blimey! Fit is good and straight. Begad! 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! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey!

No special tools needed.

Finishing: PROS: There is no finishing which is occasionally nice. Begad! Well, blow me down!

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, arrr, ya bilge rat, 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, arrr, t' flight be slow, low and okay. Avast! Avast! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Blimey! Aye aye!

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5