shouse,
From my experience a rearward CG will help but it is not the most critical thing to be able to hover. What I have found is more important are extreme throws on the tail surfaces, fast servos and a 2:1 power ratio.

Since the thread has been revived I'll give an update on my progress.....After finding the proper set-up on G2 I have been practicing regularly and have progressed to my satisfaction. The first month was frustrating and then I reached a new plateau very suddenly. That's the way it has gone for me, no progress and then all of a sudden I can do something better. I am now good for about 5 or 10 rotations and am starting to try and use ailerons to stop or reverse the roll.

I got a foamy electric and I can do everything on it that I can do on the sim, maybe even better. Yesterday I really was getting into a groove inches from the ground and for the first time found myself not thinking about what I was doing, I now know that is the ultimate goal, to not think.

My profile Edge is supposed to be excellent for hovering but I have yet to figure out the correct set-up and I think I need to change the pull-pull geometry to get better throws for 3D. I don't have the huevos yet to bring my 1/4 scale gasser down low enough to really be able to hover it well but given the progress I have made it will happen eventually.