ORIGINAL: pimmnz

All good info but missing the major points. Always check the DIRECTION of the control movement, ie up is up, left roll is actually left roll etc. It's amazing how many just waggle the sticks without checking sense. Always do a full check of the model yourself, fittings and hinges all tight and firmly fixed, horns in the right place, with the holes over the hinge line, you will be surprised how many other places people can put them. Look at the side view, make sure that things all line up, with no major warps. Check the cg yourself, just a quick 'Wingtip balance' and make sure that it is safe. Motor slightly rich 'nose up'. Ensure adequate control movement with no binding or servo buzzing, nothing worse than not enough control movement, more is better. Trims all set in line with the surfaces. Talk to the owner, tell him what you find and always be looking for a reason not to fly the thing. Better to send him home with a list of things to fix than a bag of bits, and much better for you too. After flight show him the trim positions, and get him to adjust the pushrods etc to get the trims back to 'centre' on the tranny with the model flying straight. Tell him what you find in the air so that he has a better idea of what to expect on his first flight. Then have a quiet moment.
Evan, WB #12.