RE: RC newbie with a unique problem
Air Force here!
Your "problem" is not that unique. I tend to teach the "Air Force" method for R/C beginners so they get used to making corrections to get a good line on the runway and have plenty of time to do it at a safe altitude. The "Navy" method can be learned later as well as some other more fun aproaches such as the unconventional fly low and fast down the runway in the down wind direction to 200 or 300 ft past the threshold, go virtical as you drop the throttle to idle, perform an Immelmann turn when you have just enough airspeed to roll and rotate, deploy gear, flaps and spoilers if so equiped and land. The basis of this post is to say, there is no set rules for landing R/C planes other than to do your best to land the plane in a manner that allows subsequent flights of the airframe.
Before the flame throwers get here let me just say you should always fly safe and within your experience envelope. The latter described aproach method should only be performed when you are the only plane flying at the feild as it requires a reverse pattern manouver.