I've been flying my Raptor 30 for almost 2 years now (since May 2001), and I haven't had that breakthrough that I need to get really good.
I can hover nose or tail in, and while viewing the right side of the model, but not when viewing the models left side. From a left side view, I eventually lose it and have to bring the tail back toward me. This has me far too scared to try inverted hovering in anything other than the simulator.
I was wondering how everyone mentally envisions your models when flying?
The two methods that I can come up with are:
1 - A 'mode' version, where you switch your mind into a different mode for each orientation, tail in (normal), nose in (reversed cyclic controls), inverted (reversed aileron and rudder), etc...
This method would have many different 'modes', and could lead to a lot of confusion when you factor in inverted flight.
2 - A generic 'orientation' method, where you imagine the control inputs affecting the movement of the nose, the disc, the tail, etc. An example would be that cyclic stick forward moves the nose down, relative to the model, not relative to myself the R/C pilot. This method would seem better for transitioning between various orientations, but I can't get my mind to picture the model like this. Every time I view the model from a different side, I lose track of what I need to do with the transmitter in order to get the model to react how I want.

How do you view the model mentally?
And what can I do to practice that method?

Adam