Pinning the struts is required! Instead of taping the wing as discribed in the instructions, I've started doubling the struts and it works better. This will also hold any washout you may build into the wing. As for the gearing and prop, it depends on what your looking for. I'd start with the lowest gearing, 6.6 to1, and the largest prop. This is for 3-D type flying. Go for higher gearing and smaller props for speed. Experiment to see what you prefer. You should also check the amp draw to be sure you don't excede the Pheonix 10's max.