I have a bit of a problem with trying to find a good starting point for the control surface throws on a trainer I recently purchased used. It was a old plane so it didn't come with an owners manual. I recovered it and now I need to set the control surfaces throws. It's a 60 in wing span, high wing with a flat bottom airfoil. I've been searching the internet for some type of reference point but can't seem to find anything. I'm not a beginner in rc flying but doing things correctly is always the best way to go. I have found similar trainers on line but as you know different manufactures with similar styles of aircraft can perform differently with the same settings. Any help here will be greatly appreciated.

If you don't know the airplane would be good to post a photo here. Someone would probably know what it is. Also need to know if it has ailerons or elevator/ rudder control?

Thanks for the quick reply! I'm sure it's a very old model. The covering, the old covering, was the thickest stuff I have ever seen. Tough as nails! I appreciate the build of this thing! too bad there's no serial number or marking to identify its manufacturer. I am not really good at sending photos and such. My only hope was a ball park estimation on the throws. Still, I have enough experience to fly it with the settings I think are about right. Only spent $ 50 on it, plus covering but like anything we do in this hobby, you don't like loosing our birds!

At 60 inches of wing it is likely to be some flavor of .40 size plane. I would suggest going over to outerzone.co.uk and downloading the manual for a Goldberg Eagle II. The Eagle is a stereotypical .40 size trainer. Even if your airplane isn't a Goldberg it will be close enough for your purposes. There are about a gazillion high wing trainers out there and if you borrowed any of their control throws it will probably work out just fine. The Goldberg is a good choice because of its manual. It gives a lot of good detail and walks you through the process of setting up the airplane. A Sig or Great Planes manual for one of their trainers would probably also work.

In reality this is non issue! Control throws are not that critical on a high winged trainer and as long as the C of G is correct you can use anything from 5mm to 15mm up /down measured back on the ailerons and elevators. On the side rudder you can use what ever pleases you. You alter this after the first couple of flights to your own preference!
But on a Q-500 type pylon racer (span 130 cm and 6,5cc engine) it is another ball game...here I have 3mm elevator throw measured back at the elevator and 5-8mm up/down measured back on the ailerons.
Side rudder throw ...as much as possible.

I flew R/C in the years 1977 - 1987. I am now returning after a long time away. In that time period the transmitters were not nearly as advanced as they are today. The deflections were not critical for me because I flew a shoulder wing trainer for a long time. For your plane I would set the control throw to somewhere in the middle. Unlike yesteryear today's transmitters allow you to program in the deflections you desire. As someone mentioned the deflections become more critical as you advance in aerodynamic design. The deflections can be dialed-in using the transmitter programming. Getting your plane trimmed to fly straight and dealing with the wind and the sun will be your major concerns. Now days I have been using a simulator to get me back up to speed. Below is a simulator video showing me adjusting the deflections. As it turns out... when I am flying a Yak or something stunt worthy.... I am very particular about the deflections because it has a significant effect on performance.