Wow! What an interesting set of messages. It was early when I started reading this thread.

As a newbie, let me add in my CG story:

Last spring I stumbled across an RC flying field. I've always wanted to build and fly my own plane, so I dug out a trainer kit I bought years ago, and started working on it.

Mid-October, on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon (rare in western Oregon this time of year), with my kit still "90%" complete, I finally gave into the club pressure to buy an ARF and get into the air.

After $300 and a few hours of assembly and adjustment, I took my Hangar 9 Alpha to the field. Before starting it up, my instructor gave my plane the once over and asked me about the CG and I admitted that was the one thing I hadn't checked. Being an ARF, he figured it'd be pretty close and if it wasn't he'd bring it down and we'd adjust it. He took it up, added a little right trim, and I was good to go.

Nearly two months later, I still don't know where the CG is (I will check it before flying tomorrow just in case it has one of those mishaps I've been hearing about), but even in all my ignorance ... I've been having a great time!

I suspect many, if not most, of the new flyers out there are like me. Since we didn't have to build a plane to get into the air, our ground school education has been short changed, but doesn't stop us from enjoying the hobby and mixing in with the experience ones who keep us out of trouble.

Speaking of CG ...

I've got this trainer at home, that's 90% complete. Since I have a good basic trainer I'm leaning to fly on, I've been thinking of making my kit a little sportier, sort of stikish. Maybe making the wing a little thicker, a little longer chord, using a NACA 63014 airfoil instead of the Clark Y, maybe move the whole wing back just a tad.

Any suggestions on where I should place the CG ...

Cheers!

Cub