Vanessa and pencils were exactly the same, each indicating 35 grams of weight in the tail. Vanessa used a level to ensure the plane was perpendicular to the plumb line. No leveling (except for eyeball) with the pencils. I meant to laterally balance it and completely forgot - thanks. I'll be charging the batteries tonight and flying tomorrow morning unless work/weather gets in the way. I'll post before and after pics - my goal will be the same as with my trainer, get it up and down in flying condtition.