Okay, first off I am very new to this hobby. I have only one plane, a Slow Stick. I have had only a few flights, most sucessfull and by that I mean that the plane was intact and flyable after landing. My issue is that no matter what I do, my SSseems to be tail heavy. I have moved the wing back, shifted the components forward added weight to the nose and no matter what I do the plane flys as though it is tail heavy (even at center stick the it wants to go nose up). I have adjusted my trim both on the ground and in the air and unless it has considerable down elevator either trimmed or with the stick it just wants to climb. When checking the CGI have followed the instructions and have tried to balance it between 9.5 cm and 10.5 cm from the leading edge of the wing and when balanced right it is unflyable (thought about buying stock in props for a minute) and even when balanced nose heavy it still didn't fly or glide well. This worries me for a couple of reasons. One, if I can 't figure out how to balance, trim and fly this very basic type of air plane how will I ever be able to comfortably move on to bigger more complicated planes. Two, would I have these same issues if I was to by a foam RTF (I would really like to say with electric due to the availability of flying areas walking distance from my house if I do). I know a simulator is not the same thing as actual flying but on my Pheonix simulator I can fly darn near every plane (nitro or electric, prop of ducted fan) with no problem from take off to basic aerobatics to landing, even when adding a decent amount of wind. I really would like to move on to a different plane but I don't want to make a bad investment. Research tells me that I should seek out a large high wing plane but the plane that Ican fly the best on the simulator is the Max 3D which looks like a nitro version of the Typhoon 2 3D. I guess the question is will I have the same problems with a foam RTF or ARF and I should spend more time figruing out my SSbefore I buy something else or are the SS's not so much for a beginner of my level due to having to build and balance the plane almost from scratch. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Brett

More than one thing can be happeneing here. First of all the SS deosnt have any down thrust built into the motor mount. This can cause the plane to climb while the prop is doing it's job. I think I remember reading somewhere once that the recommended CG is wrong, but I cant find it. Google Slow Stick and look around.

Question though. When you cut the throttle, what does the plane do, attitude wise? Fly level, dive?

Something I just noticed in your statement.

I have moved the wing back, shifted the components forward added weight to the nose and no matter what I do the plane flys as though it is tail heavy.

Try moving the wing forward, not back.

While reading your post, the first thing came to mind is down-thrust. I'm no expert, but consider shimming the motor to point down very slightly (2-3 degrees) and try. Sound's like you'd be able to fly a plane that is properly set-up.

This up and down thrust is a new term to me but I understand the concept. That seem to me that putting a little down thrust would probably do the trick. It makes sense. Gary, you asked how it handled with the throttle cut and it glides nicely and it does fly okay at very slow speeds just as soon as i get on the throttle the nose shoots right up. Ironically, landing is the easiest part of flying this plane as it is set up now . As far as moving the wing forward I will try it but I would think that would make it more tail heavy. I try to think of CG as a teeter toter. If I have a teeter toter balanced perfectly and move the balance point to one side the side I moved it to would go up and the side I moved it away from would go down but I'll give it a shot.

Generally any trainer type of plane is set to climb at full throttle, so if you are trying to maintain a level flight at full throttle, especially with the limited capabilities of a pico/mini stick than you are fighting yourself...its meant to climb up , and fly around, maybe a loop or 2 but thats it, just something to give you real stick time...I learned on one in a schoolyard myself..you may need full throttle to do a loop or to head into the wind (10 mph) and it helps that they float in for a landing...you are just trying to fly full throttle on a half throttle plane is all.....Rog

Bud it's a Slow Stick it's meant to fly slow. Any increase in power or wind over the wing will make the plane climb because it has a under cambered wing. Like you said landing is the best part of this plane. Cut the throttle and it just settles in and lands. This is a pure beginner plane. You give it throttle and it takes off all by it's self, cut the throttle and it lands almost by it's self. Could you ask for any thing more in a beginner plane? Just set the CG by way of the instructions. Use the throttle to climb. Trim at a SLOW speed for level flight and leave the trim there. Then fly, fly, fly, till you get bored. Then go to a flat bottom wing or semi-symmetrical high or shoulder wing type plane. A Cub would be a good choice. I don't think anything is wrong with your SS. It's pilot error

Agreed Rog. I do want  more speed. I like flying the SS as it is a lot of fun and relaxing but loops and inverted flight aren't enough. I want to do rolls, knife edges, high speed low passes and harriers as I can do to those pretty well on the simulator with a quit a few different models on my sim.

It's a Slow Stick and was designed to fly slow. As new guys we seem to forget about throttle control and as a former RC car racer I can tell you, throttle control is often overlooked. I was at the field today and noticed some of the flyers only have two throttle postitions. On and off!

Youll be ok!

Sig Four Star 60 should be you next plane then.

Well chief thats just part of the hobby,,you can put a V8 into a pinto, it'll go faster, but wont handle well...thats just part of it, if you want to go bigger than you move up from parkflyers and go to the local field...get a .40 trainer the on to the next...Rog

flemflam000,

For some reason (bent boom, wing support, etc.) there is excessive angle between the wing and the stab.

Place the CG at 1/4 of the chord of the wing, measured from the leading edge.

Try to fix that angle second, may be by adding shims under the trailing edge of the wing, under the leading edge of the stab, or by bending the boom.

Do that in small increments, and toss the model horizontally into a unpowered glide, until you achieve a nice descending glide.

Go fly normally, and enjoy, while you decide on your next model.

First of all, moving the wing forward WILL make it more tail heavy - don't do it.

If it glides nicely, it is balanced correctly.

This is called a SLOW Stick for a reason. It has TONS of lift and is designed to fly SLOWLY. Fly it faster and it will climb like a homesick angel.

If it is too slow for your liking, your only real option is to buy something different.

You'll likely find that a plane with a semi-symetrical or symetrical wing is actually easier to fly because they just do whatever you tell them over a wide variety of speeds. The plane you have now is made to only fly at one speed, and you're trying to get it to go a different one.

Thank you all for the help. I flew today with sucess. I put some shims under the back of the wing and moved control arm on my servo for the elevator so I could have a little extra down elevator trim. It flew great, although, like everyone said the more throttle the more the nose wanted to go up but with the modifications it wss managable. I have come to grips with the fact that I need to upgrade my plane. Since I am still a genuine newbi my mind tells me I need to go with a high wing plane with a little dihedral, but my heart tells me I want a plane like a Typhoon or Yak. I think I will go with what my mind tells me and get a high wing 4 ch plane that is capable of some basic aerobatics. Any suggestions? Gary, you suggested the Sig Four Star 60, which looks good but I would like to stay with electric. Thanks again all.

Brett

You can allways upgrade the SS Brett.

http://www.stevensaero.com/StevensAe...2-p-18450.html

ParkZone T-28 is a really good second plane.

MSComposit Blade EPP takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Symmetrical wing flys like a dream lands slow and it's electric. If you like Bi-wings them the MSComposit BullDog lands even slower them the Blade.

link: http://www.commonsenserc.com/page.ph...ermediate.html