Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Begad! Lots o' room. Avast!

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

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

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

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

No special tools needed.

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

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

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. Begad!

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5