getting close to finishing my alpha 60 and im really nose heavy when im balancing it i have a os 61fx with a true turn spinner my receiver and batt are back as far as it can be in the fuselodge to get it level it takes 15 of the 1/4oz small square lead weights i slid them in the rear hole where the elevator control rod comes out i havnt mounted the permently yet im measureing back 1 1/4 back from leading edge is it ok to put that many weights on a plane? and should i be measureing from a different spot than the 1 1/4

I just looked at the manual online and the correct CG is 4.25" from the leading edge, not 1.25". Make sure you are using the correct CG measurement. If it does end up needing tail weight, consider putting your receiver battery back further in the fuselage. Remove the covering from a large lightening hole and make something to attach the battery too then just use an extension to connect it. Another tip I recently got is to attach the battery to a dowel then srick the dowl down the fuselage. Adjust it until the plane balances the permanently attach the dowel to the plane.

might have to try that chuck it sounds like a great idea that was my typeing mistake on the 1 1/4 i did measure from 4 1/4 like the manuel said

My Goldberg Tiger 120 needed over a pound of nose weight to make the CG. This stuff happens. It is not a fun matter, more of a pain, but to make it fly correctly, you need to do this carefully and make sure you do it right. Put the weight where you need it and fly the plane.

CGr

Point is, the CG is the important point, not that you have to add weight to get it there. While it is true that lighter flies better, you are very light to begin with, the added weight won't make a real difference. The 60 size flies great, you will just add to the stability of it in the wind. Try and make sure that the wing is in the wing saddle correctly, and that you are measuring close to the fuselage, about 1/4 " out from it at the saddle. And you will end up slightly nose down when you are finished. A little nose heavy may make you land a little fast, but tail heavy won't fly at all. Good luck, you have a fantastic trainer that will take you a long way. I have 2 of the 40 size that are going on 6 or 7 years old.

I mounted my RX battery halfway to the tail in the fuse. Also you might be able to replace an aluminum spinner with a plastic one to lighten the nose. I was able to move the engine toward the firewall about 3/4" and shed some tail weight. Maybe try a foam nose wheel instead of rubber?

There's a lot you can do, it just depends how far you want to go.

Yup as Spiral has alluded too, when you find that you are adding a lot of tail weight, one easy option, space permitting, is to move the engine backward.

1/4" movement of the engine, may eliminate the need for any tail weight.

thanks you guys i really get alot of good advice on here! so today i attached my battery on a piece of wooden dowel ,wrapped it in foam and carefully slid it back as far as i could it went about 3/4 the way back and fit great (after some fiddeling) i checked my center of gravity now and its just a very little bit tail heavy about 3 1/4 oz squares i sure hate to pull all that out for a little added weight so i need to know where a safe place to mount the weights on the front and do you guys trust the tape on the weights or do you mount them with something else ?

Edit - I answered this before I re-read your post. I was going to suggest just moving the battery forward, but you already said you'd rather not.

I have never relied on just the stickers for the stick-on weights. I always epoxy them in place.

Good luck.

CGR, I expect better solutions from you than this... Everybody knose you do not add dead weight to the nose... you install a bigger engine

Adding that much tail weight seems typical for the Alpha 60.

I had to add 15 weight squares (3.75 oz) to the back of my Alpha 60 also. I attached to under the stab next to the fuselage opposite the exhaust - (2) rows of 6 and a third row of 3 paralleling the fuselage. I have not had any issues using the adhesive backing that comes with the weights, I just make sure I clean the mounting surface with alcohol before I attach them and try to keep them out of the exhaust path. With that huge wing the plane doesn't know they are there, and they add less than 3% to the total weight of the plane (.04 lbs/ft sq). It still lands as slow as a NextStar! I had to add more tail weight after I did the initial test flights to get the true balance and a good nose high flair.

Make sure your battery is well secured. All it will take is a hard landing to jar it loose and the last thing you want is for it to come sliding forward into the servos and shifting the CG at the same time while possibly coming unhooked. That is why I left mine secured next to the receiver and just added the weight. Unless I can build a battery box to contain the battery, I'd rather add some weight if its not excessive.

I've found the factory control throws are a bit soft, especially elevator during flair. I did run out of elevator during flair on the first flight with the nose gear just above the ground (not enough for a decent flair), and found in 10 mph crosswinds the stock aileron throws where not enough - I ran out of aileron. If you have a radio with dual rates, add 30% for high rates to start, otherwise you may find moving the pushrod in 1 notch on the elevator horn, and move the aileron horns about 4 turns closer to the wing should help.

Also pay attention to the nose gear bracket - it's way too small for the plane (more suited to a .32 size plane). Mine snapped on a take-off run, and it had not been landed on the nose gear (not the first time I've heard of that happening). The Dubro nose gear brackets will fit as a much beefier replacement.

Hogflyer

The adhesive will fail, especially if it is near the engine. You can usually epoxy them or use a small screw.

i went back in and pulled my battery on my dowel up a little towards the front and its real close to being level its just a very very little bit tail heavy but you really have to look to see it if i add 3 of the weights now it tips the nose a little downward and stays there and makes it slightly nose heavy so what should i do go without the weight and leave it like it is to get a good nose flair?

Always err on the nose-heavy side, not tail heavy. Add a little weight, or shift the battery a bit more to make it level or very slightly nose down (less than 5 degrees).

When you're done, be sure to anchor the battery so it won't come forward in a hard landing. I use a scrap of balsa most times, and just glue it across the former in front of the battery, or from fuse side to fuse side, if no former is handy. You really don't want it to shift, and even a trainer pulls 10g turns with ease.

It's far better to worry about where the plane ballances than how much it weighs, especially on a light load plane like the Alpha.

You're gonna have a great flying plane when you're done!

J

ive got it pretty close now thanks for everyones imput you can learn alot from you fellas and ladies !!! i wrapped my battery in foam before i put it on the dowel rod and when i pushed it back thru the fuselodge it filled the space around the batterry nicely i dont think it will move much now the way it sets the battery on a dowel rod worked perfect for me is this a new procedure or is a old trick of the trade???!!!

Just make sure it can't move. I used velcro on mine. The stupid thing is near impossible to move.

Also you might consider putting those servo connector lock thingies on the battery and any extensions that you used to move the battery back that far, just in case it DOES move.

I'm glad it worked out actually. No, you probably wouldn't have noticed all the extra weight of lead, but I like to do things like this. It might