Brief: Large but not chunky payloader. Arrr! Lots o' room. Aye aye! Arrr!

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

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

Instructions: Easy t' follow, usual decent illustrations in good order. Avast, me proud beauty! No templates needed. Well, blow me down!

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. After fightin' with mine, ya bilge rat, I ended up usin' a floss threader which worked great. Begad! Alignment is good for fins and tubes. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Fit is good and straight. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Transition is very loose and t' nose cone is extremely tight. Pretty sturdy but can see t' fins snappin' easily if it lands right. Begad! Blimey!

No special tools needed. Avast! Avast!

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

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. Aye aye! Blimey!

On a D12-5, t' flight be slow, low and okay. Begad! Aye aye! Don't know if t' slight veerin' be due t' t' wind or t' payload. Blimey! Begad!

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary: PROS: Nice t' have another big one around and a payloader at that. Blimey! Good flyer. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

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

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5