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

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

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, ya bilge rat, me bucko, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Just makin' a tip on t' shock cord does nay ensure easy insertion into t' coupler. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! After fightin' with mine, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Avast, me proud beauty! Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Well, blow me down! Fit is good and straight. Blimey! Ya scallywag! 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!

No special tools needed. Ahoy!

Finishing: PROS: There is no finishing which is occasionally nice. Avast, me proud beauty!

CONS: A constant gripe about Estes' decals, thar be only one for every other fin. Avast, me proud beauty!

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. Ya scallywag!

On a D12-5, arrr, t' flight was slow, low and okay. Arrr! Avast! Don't know if t' slight veerin' was due t' t' wind or t' payload. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5