For some reason balancing has always been tough for me...perhaps i over thing it.

This time Im trying to balance an Sbach 342 - 60" (Goldwing/Skyline). The manual makes no mention of right side up or inverted. Ive tried both with mixed results. Right side up Im very tail heavy. Inverted, I am able to balance. Which should I go with here? Im using the GP balancer.

Thanks

There should be no difference in where it balances. The balace point will be the same regardless of whether you do it right side up or up side down. It will just be more difficult to do if the CG is above the suspension points you are using to find the balance point. Remember, the CG is a point that represents the center of mass of the model and does not even have to be in or on the model on some of the more strange configurations. Fortunately, on most models it is a point located somewhere in the fuselage on, above or below a line between your two balance points.

A Vanessa rig is easy to make and use, inexpensive, and will balance any plane upright or inverted. For small planes, fingers are even easier and cheaper, and Rodney is right: the balance point doesn't change depending on whether the plane is upright or not.

I've always just lifted the plane with a couple fingers below each wing spar, arms shoulder width apart and depending on recommended CG sometimes it's just a little aft the spar, in which case I feel for a rib support to place my fingers. Never had any kind of bought balancing device.

Balancing a low wing airplane right side up is a kin to pushing a rope it can be done but it's very difficult. As said above the weight needs to be suspended from the balance point not perched on it

vanessa rig all the way. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/tips...g-rig-how.html

True, the CG is a point on the front to back line of the plane and is not dependent on the plane's attitude, but it's impossible to check if the balance point you've chosen is below the vertical CG of the plane. On a low wing and many mid wing planes, it is impossible to get a plane to balance with your fingers or device on the bottom of the wing. You know you're doing it the wrong way when the plane tips either forward or backward no matter what you do and will never just balance. So pick the method that works. If the plane will balance stable when it's inverted, then that's the right way. If it will balance stable upright, then that's the right way. It's really not any more complicated than that.

The Vanessa rig is a lovely thing but it still won't tell you how the model will fly best. It gets you to the designer's recommended balance point, but you may not fly like the designer, share his tastes in handling or have your gear in the same positions.

Finger-tips get you close (I use it on models up to 18 pounds) but flying is the only way to tell you are where you need to be. Does the nose rise or fall in knife edge? If you fly a 45° upline and release the sticks with the model trimmed for level does it fall or climb? How about the same maneuver inverted?

Preferred center of gravity is a personal thing.

That's true, Charlie. Measuring at home only has two real purposes: to get the plane at a known safe CG for the first flight, and to have a record of the final flight trim in case you have a crash and want to get the plane back exactly as it was or set up a new one just like it. I keep a file on the computer for every plane I have with all the important data- CG, wing and tail incidence, engine thrustlines, control throws, and mixes. That lets me do good repairs if I need to, and it lets me return to a previous setup if I make a change and don't like it.

Hi!
I only use two fingers to balance my planes regardless of size.