RE: Keeping the Plane in GOOD SHAPE?
keep it clean with a little water and denatured alcohol mix I go about 25% in a spray bottle to cut the grime with some paper towls handy it makes quick work of the slime, no need to do it after every flight just the end of the day,I spray the outside of the engine with the carb closed as well to remove any dirt build up.
really check the clevices the plastic connectors are prety durrable but sometimes the little pin can break and its hard to notice without pulling the piece of fuel line back, and checking them, I just use a small screw driver to give them a little spreading, no need to pop them open just a little tug will be enough to tell if there is a problem, there pennies to replace and rarely break, but they do sometimes, better safe than sorry.
while your at it, make sure the fuel line safety retainers are in good shape , its easy to cut a little piece of fuel line to replace them,I do mine evey couple of years or less,a little trick I use, is with a large pair of hemostats stretch the fuel line enough to move it over the clevis, then just slide it off the end, so your not fighting the tubing , a pair of needle nosed pliars works well also, I like the hemo's because they have loops so there easy to spread the tubing.
also check the screws and bolts, the servos have small #2 screws that can loosen up every once in a while.
the engine mounting bolts on the mount its self, and the engine are obvious areas where vibration can loosen things up, as well as the landing gear,and wheel collars, many storys of coming in for a landing with a wheel missing, it can make a great day flying turn ugly quick, even the most seasond pilots have it happen to them, its easy to overlook