Originally posted by BMatthews
That's pretty much right Bernie.
But just to clear up the language a little the wing will only return to level when there is a slide slip component. In a turn when we return the rudder to straight the model is left side slipping a little so it returns to level. When a gust tips the model it side slips again and so the dihedral returns the model to level.
Not sure i agree here. Sideslip, as you say, is a result, not a cause. If you put ailerons on a wing with quite a lot of dihedral, in a perfectly (and theoretical) calm air mass, and bank slightly, then release, the wing will go back to level, without any other sideslip than the one induced by the bank itself (Wing with more lift induce more drag than the other, hence "sideslip", normally compensated by the fixed rudder.)
Bernard