Hi Guys,

I've been looking through instruction manuals of trianers at the LHS to see what type of information may be printed in them that isn't in my current trianer's manual. I've noticed that there seems to be many steps/tips/tricks that are in some but not present or just skipped in others.

As a relatively new builder, and a tyro pilot, I've found that many of the things that I've found in the manuals are pretty necessary, but not present in the trainer's instructions that I purchased. Which has led me to wonder just what else I'm missing.

To help correct these oversites, how about we post tips that we've picked up or were taught along the way. Such as checking the incidence of the tail plane to the wings, my trianer doesn't mention word one about this.

Waddya say? Lets compile a checklist of building "necessaries" that we all need to follow to make sure our hard work doesnt' become dust.

I'll start with what I wrote above.

Check the incidence of the tail plane to the wing to make sure that they are parallel to one another, so you avoid the tendency to bank to one side needing lots of trim to fix.

OK, Lets not. It was just a thought.

You mean the tail must be square, ARFs have the incidence pre built in 99.9% of the time. Yes, the elevator must be square on both sides to the wing in oder to fly straight on turns/banks. Rudder also perpendicular to the stab.

Hinges are also overlooked. most common are CA hinges, When used, be sure to use CA on both top and underside of hinge, or they may pull out. A good Pre Flight test should also be performed, Pull on the hinges, make sure all Servo horn screws are tight... Etc...

And also: NEVER use quick links on the elevator, Unless you square the rod on the contact area, (Dremel), and you use Thread locker on the set screw. I've seen too many planes be lost due to cheezy quick links on the elevator!

There are more, but I'll leave them for someone else

Here's another one that I missed on my first airplane that the instructions seem to never touch on during construction (or assembly) of trainers: Lateral balance. The instructions almost always include a section on how to locate the center of gravity (CG) and how to balance the plane in it's pitch axis BUT it needs to be balanced in it's roll axis (side to side) also. With the plane sitting level, lift it by the engine (or spinner) and the bottom of the fuselage at the tail. If one wing drops when you lift the aircraft, it means that side is heavy and you need to attach a weight to the lighter side of the wing. Make sure you find the CG and laterally balance the airplane after the model is completed. If you have done everything right the airplane should fly and track through the air very well. PAUL

This is the latest set of instructions I've done:

http://www.spadtothebone.com/SPAD/DasPlasStick/

And as I learn what guys get hung up on, I'm learning what to put in the plans...as well as some of my favorite "simpler" ways of doing things...such as throttle and nose gear hook-ups.

GREAT thread!

I have my own lists of these on a variety of sites -- they're called FAQs when I post them, though. ;-)

Seriously, the comment on lateral is a great one. This can be so key to how an aircraft lands and avoiding tip stalls and many ARFs don't touch on this key step.

Adding to the CA hinge tip above, always work the hinge while the CA is drying to avoid it getting stiff. And DON'T overdo the CA. Too much is at least as bad as too little.

I strongly encourage the readers here to visit www.bestrc.com, go to any of our sites you choose, and bring at least one helpful thing you found back and add it to this thread for others to see! Let's chat about the info that's out there, and tell me how to make it clearer, more complete, more helpful, what you'd like to see added,.....

Sincerely,
Mrs. AnnMarie Cross
Senior Manager, Proprietary Service and Support
Great Planes Model Distributors
[email protected]
www.greatplanes.com
www.bestrc.com

To me I was amazed at the amount of "seasoned flyers" that told me, "with my trainer I did not have to worry about lateral balance". I realize that dihedral will tend to keep the plane level... but why not take a few extra minutes and do it right. I training, I was prone to tip stalls because I gave too much elevator at times. If I was off balance laterally it would have made my situation worse..... wouldn't it? ARFs can have the balance WAY off. In building my first kit this winter the right aileron weighed at LEAST twice that of the left because of the wood density. I could hardly get the CA hinge slots dug in. (I used the Harry Higley hinge slotter). I ended up putting 1/2 ounce of lead on the left wing tip. As a newbie last spring, and now, I take a lot of advice from experienced pilots....
BUT ... to you new guys out there..... balance laterally no matter what the other guys say about your trainer!!! It just cannot hurt anything, and may save your plane on a marginal take off or landing!!!! Just my opinion. ... lownslo

Bob