RE: Slowing pattern plane
Recently got into patten again but have been flying for too many years to remember, IMHO spoilers are the thing that has helped me land more than any other advise with a hot ship, I fly from a small grass patch and need a steep aprouch, the up ailerons both sides I have on a side slider on my Zap this enables me to adjust the rate of decent and just use the corresponding amount of elevator on the stick, with up ailerons you are also adding washout therefore reducing the snap tendancy also.
Just my two penny worth.
Mike