How must I balance my Cap 232? Up side down? if I don't know the CG area how can I calculate more or less?

You do not HAVE to balance it either way, but often it's easier to balance a low-wing plane upside down

Read this to see why:

Balancing Upside-Down?

If you don't have a manual, you could use this as reference:

http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma0232-manual.pdf

Pages 40 and 41.

thanks guys... another question... my plane is now upside down...



do I want the nose rather to point down a little as I have entered or a little up?...

I rather have the fuse horizontal than nose pointing slightly down, but never leave the nose pointing up.

Don't forget a lateral balance as well.

are you referring to my up and down in my picture?

If the nose points up as you have pictured, it means the plane is tail heavy, which is not usually desired for a maiden flight. Its usually a little more stable if the plane is a slightly nose heavy. Personally I like most of my planes a little tail heavy, but only after I have maidened them and become a little familiar with their habits.

I think I will just try and get it as vertical as possible... what will happen if I had to balance if the plane was up?

I think you meant horizontal instead of vertical, which would be correct if you just try to balnce it so as to get the nose and tail level. If a plane is nose heavy ( nose down in your picture) then it will be more stable, track straighter, and easier to control for the most part, but it will land at a little faster speed and need a little room. Even a plane that is too nose heavy can still be flown successfully, it just wont be very gracefull. A slightly tail heavy plane will land slower and be more agile, but could be harder to control, especially on a windy day. A plane that is too tail heavy will most likely be too hard to control and is likely to crash.

The whole point of "Slightly nose down" is to avoid being tail heavy.

Maybe something in the background is making it appear level even though it is slightly tail-down. So just let it sit with the nose down far enough that you are SURE it is not tail heavy.

And by "Nose Down" we mean, the nose is closer to the floor regardless of whether the plane is right-side-up or upside-down.

you guys have been very helpful... thanks a mill... only need to balance the plane now then it can get in the air... not my maiden flight... I am beginner to Nitro though...