Hello I just got my first plane, a graunpner terry. It has the speed 400 w/ controler and the 6 cell 500ar pack and the 6x3 prop. I chose JR241 servos and a R610 RX. I did every thing the plans say but I do not under stand the CG. It just has an arrow pointing to the top and bottem. I think it points to the screws that hold the wing and that would be the center. (The screws would hold all the weight right?) But I made a CG balence with a phone book and two coat hangers and it LOOKS like the CG is about 1inch forward of the screws. I wasnt sure if I should cut the spruce stiffener ..so I did and glued it back to have something to mount my RX to. The thing that puzzles me is that I got the battery as far as it can go.

Does this seem right? About how far back should my cg be? (measureing along the mold lines on the side from the nose.)
If not I will flip the RX vertical and move it as far back as I can. If thats not enough could I add a 1 ounce fishing sinker ?

And how large should my flying feild be for my first few flights? And please do not say "a fairly large feild" I am not sure of how big yout "fairly" is. I have a 2 acre back yard with a hill in the center and its surrounded by trees. Would this be enough? My last question, how SLOW can it go? I am not worryed about speed at all. I just want to float around.

The CG is usually located near the thickest part of the airfoil, or another hint is at about 1/3 of the wing-cord from the leading edge as long as the wing is not swept a lot.
It is not a good idea to fly at a too small site, the planes often tends to go for the nearest trees... Have never flown that plane, but I`m sure it can be flown at quite small areas as long as you are experienced. Since this is your first one remember that you sure will be afraid to make the turns thus bringing the plane right in to the woods.

I would not recommend this as a first plane unless you have been flying someone else's or have been using an RC flight simulator to get the feel of the controls and speed of RC planes. I would recommend the EASY STAR http://www.hobby-lobby.com/beginners-rc.htm It is allot more forgiving, slower and slows down faster for easier landing in tighter spaces and the Elapor foam takes way more abuse.The pusher prop eliminates prop strikes on landing and helps slow it down also. I wish I bought an Easy Star when I was starting( they didn't exsist yet). The Terry was my third plane and my buddies second. The Easy Star would have been a better choice no question. I know two people with them and they are the better choice for a first plane. As you will see, I've had to do allot of modifications to the Terry to keep it from breaking and keep me from breaking it again.It is a great flying plane as Hobby Lobby says but kinda fast for a beginner,more fragile, and tougher to land for sure.

That being said,

Okay, the C.G. is at the screws. Try getting your receiver as far back as possible.I use a Hitech 555 receiver and have it mounted with the connectors sticking up. I cut away foam to mount it as far back and deep as possible.I Velcro(Industrial Strength version) the battery all the way against the foam wing mount posts.If you can't get it to balance after that then you will have to add weight to the tail. You can tape a quarter(s) to the tail skid area under the elevator using postal tape.

The Terry is a fast plane.......and she doesn't slow down very well due to the sleek aerodynamic design. Landing is when you need a big field. I use about a 150yd long space to land. When you bring her in near the ground she doesn't seem to slow down very much. To help her slow more, try keeping the throttle just cracked open a little so the prop stays open .This creates a little "drag" on the airframe to slow it faster.Then bring her down to about a foot or two off the ground letting her slow with the prop out. Then cut the throttle off so you don't hit the prop on the ground and then bring her slowly into the grass straight and level.

The wing needs to be reinforced or it will fail if you pull a tight loop while going to fast( I've watched my buddy snap two wings, one it was his second plane and we didn't know any better, the second he had only used postal tape on both sides but he had a heavier motor and battery as well,made a Loud "POP" and both missile in with a foam explosion) I would reinforce the wing using strapping tape (fiberglass tape) on both sides. Two strips about 2/3s the length of the wings on the top and bottom(four strips total). One in front of the wing screws and one behind. If you move tape behind the screws as far back as possible that will add more weight to the tail and help your C.G. I would also use epoxied on fiberglass tape around the wing bolt area on the inside and outside of the fuse to help them stay intact if you tag a wing tip on landing. They will crack out the sides of the fuse when you tag a wing tip or wing side, even when pulling it out of or putting it in the car/truck...( yeup, thats what I did)

I now have a Mega 16/15/7 brushless in it on a plywood nose mount using a 10 cell 1100 brick pack with a 8x5 folding prop. I epoxied Carbon Fiber tape two both sides of the wings and epoxied Fiberglass around the wing mounts. I also added a third wing mount screw on the tail end of the wing to prevent it from twisting and pulling out the other two screws through the sides of the fuse....it Hauls A**

I will answer any other questions you have.

MRPH