StoneDeaf, buy a 12" extension to leave permanently plugged into the reciever. The "Z' bends described in the manual are safer than the quick-connects shown in the photo. The servo arm can be taken off the servo to stab the control rod. When you get to the point in the assembly when it's time to adjust the control surfaces, do them one at a time. Without any of the control rods or cables hooked up to the servos (pull the arms off the servos), but connected to the servo arms, turn on the tx and the rx. The servos will center themselves. Now rotate the servo arm until the control surfaces are at neutral and find the nearest place they will go back on the servo. They can be fine tuned by screwing in or out the clevises. The different holes in the control horns at the rudder, elevator, aileron and throttle and on the servo arms will provide the proper throw. It would be much better to find someone at your local flying field to help you with this. For every question answered, there will be ten more. There should be someone at the field willing to help.