Hmmm...lots of things to think about. Post-crash sims in RF certainly suggest a CG problem (and messing with the throws in RF doesn't do much) but here are the facts about the actual setup of the plane before its fateful maiden:

Wingspan: 62"
Weight: Not sure (5-7 pounds?)
Engine: Magnum 40 2S (I'm interested in scale not aerobatic flight)

Note here: Some people seem to like to make screamers out of these and put in something like a 71 or even 90. Seagull describes this as .40 size plane, though and their suggested engine is a .46. Since I like the WWI planes which were mostly underpowered I thought the 40 would be good training.

Radio: Airtronics VG6000 with no exponential dialed in (I'm new to this)
Throws: Set somewhere between the VERY minimal LOW rates suggested in the manual (for example, elevator 3/8 up and down, ailerons 3/16 up and down) and the higher rates. So I've got about an inch left and right on the rudder. About 5/8 up and down on the elevator and maybe 3/8 up and down on the ailerons. I'll check these again though.

I do have a 52FS I could put in it but I didn't want to have to mess with swapping out the pre-installed engine mount.