Balancing tools
 

What is everyone using these days to balance the CG on their airplanes? I've done it by finger tips and it works pretty good, but looking to get a good, CG tool/balancer. Can't find the GP Balance machine anyplace now. So what is everyone using?

I have tried 3 methods for larger planes:
1. Put it on the floor and get it level, with an accurate scale under each wheel, and calculate from there (I have a dummy blocks the size of the 1 scale I have, so I can move the scale around one wheel at a time). Worked fine.
2. Build a pair of stands with a fat dowel on top (like 1 inch or fatter). Place the airplane so that the dowels are parallel to the wing spar, so the weight is distributed over a foot long dowel (instead of at a point), but the wing is free to roll forward/backward on top of the dowel. Also worked fine.
3. Build a Vanessa (hanging with plumb bob). Also worked fine.

My preferred method now is (3). It took a while to set up the first time, but now that I did it once it is the fastest and easiest method to set up again (the hook is already screwed into the ceiling, the pulleys and ropes are in a drawer).

I looked I to the Vanessa system, I think too complex for balancing this foam plane. Probably later when I start my hangar 9 Carbon Cub which is a huge plane. I think for now I will just balance with my fingers the best I can using the manuals cg suggestions. I already did a quick balance test at 63mm in and it looked perfect and I believe a slight nose heavy condition which I hear is a good thing. I might to the dowel system you suggested...sounds cheap and easy and more accurate. I'll decide later, but for now I'll just finger balance so I can just do some practice hops....like one foot off the ground and land, lol... Gonna take this real slow.

Sure, if fingers work, fingers are the best way. I have also used the erase ends of pencils, but I think fingers work better.

Some people put a surface mark at the CG, like a drop of glue, a piece of tape, or the head of a pin driven into the foam. If you put something that you can feel with your fingertips, it makes things a little easier.