Up until now I've only really used Ailerons and Elevator for turning my plane, is this generally the preferred method or should I start trying to get used to using the rudder (which seems totally alien at the moment) for normal turns - I realise you need to combine it for axial roles, knife edge / aerobatics etc ???? If I should be using the rudder in what situations is one preferred to the other and any tips for the best way to start trying to get used to the change.

Thanks in advance !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, they both have their purpose. Most of it depends on the plane you're flying. I know there are some that will only use the rudder on a plane with dihedral wings. this is not advisable on sport and 3d planes. The rudder helps keep the plane in it's track durring a turn unstead of fighting with the elevator and ailerons. Up until recently, I was like you and only used the rudder for ground control. On most planes you can get away without using the rudder in the air, but for aerobatic and 3d maneuvers, it's almost a necessity. It's not going to hurt to start using the rudder. It would be helpfull in a crisis like if an aileron servo gets stripped or in some cases to slow the plane down. if you're flying a trainer or something with a dihedral wing, try using only the rudder to turn in the air (make sure you're a couple mistakes high). After a while, it will become second nature.

Yes. You do need to learn to use rudder.
Most club instructors tend to make sure you use it in co-ordinated turns. However, if you have learnt so far without its use try some steep climbs and add the rudder slowly. At first just waggle it and see the results. Turns on most scale aircraft have to be flown with co-ordinated rudder. Aerobatic planes do also.
If you are a club member get one of the experinced members to help you through. You will wonder how you flew without it once you have learnt.
Hope this helps.

you can get in trouble using the rudder down low like on approach, if you're not used to it.
practice using rudder a couple of mistakes high to make a flat turn, you will probably have to use opposite ailerons to keep it flat. make 360 deg turns. then try side slipping the plane. once mastered the rudder will be 2nd nature.
in the mean time stay with ailerons while on approach.

yea the rudder will turn the plane either way u want it, and as it turns the inner wing will be travelling less then the outer wing and this will create less lift on that side which wil make the plane bank in. and the more you bank the more the rudder will be turning into an elevator and will pitch the plane down so watch out for that at lower altitudes.

I try to teach the student the use of the rudder in flight. Definitely during take off and landing (of course.. ) and during flight, I offer the information to the student to try to get them used to the coordination with both their hands and the aircraft. Some people just cannot walk and chew gum at the same time so using both hands during a turn seems to be a bit much at first. But it seems, like anything else in this hobby, the brain overload levels change as the student gains experience and competence.

As a beginning student, it's hard enough to get the student to learn the difference between right and left (THE PLANE's RIGHT and THE PLANE's LEFT) then make a turn using the aileron followed by elevator input, followed by release of elevator, and applying opposite aileron to finish out the turn and continue on with straight and level flight. So, I try to focus on the basic turn. Then once the student has 'mastered' that maneuver, I add something. I tell them that once they begin the turn, to coordinate the elevator with the rudder into the turn to keep the nose up. It becomes trial and error as to how much rudder to apply during a specific turn because the amount needed will, of course, change with the 'steepness' of the turn.

So, it becomes a competence level that improves with practice, as it does with anything.

I have also told the student to gain altitude, then turn using ONLY the rudder. No aileron input. It becomes a flat turn, but eventually, they get it and it seems to help them work with the rudder in flight.

DS.