ORIGINAL: ARUP
I set up my CL planes 0-0-0 and push the c.g. back until twitchy then bump fwd a 'smidge'. Not technical speak but works. Varying the wing AOA is what causes ascent and descent. I don't fly 3-d or aerobatic RC but the principal is similar.
On your CL model, if your prop is turning to the outside of the circle and your thrust angle is truly 0, you would need rudder offset to keep the lines from going slack. Your wing, stab and engine/motor might be zero, but the model still needs to fly in constant slip