Might be easier if you just forget the surface the stick operates, but lets call it 'direction' and 'speed' and 'height'. That way whatever surface controls the direction of the thing gets hooked to the stick that operates that channel, 'Speed' is then hooked into whatever stick controls the elevator, and if you are using an engine, then 'height' just gets plugged into whatever stick operates the throttle or speed control. If you are using all four channels, then the one that's left is usually plugged into the rudder stick/channel. After all, standing on the ground holding a sweaty plastic box in your hands bears no relationship at all to actually sitting in the real thing with all the physical/visual feedback you get, so it would be better to label the radios' controls with a description of what response they get from the model, rather than what flappy bit they move, wouldn't it?
Evan, WB #12.