Im looking for a good balancer for my planes,,was reading an article (which I misplaced) about a new type of balancer,,easy to use and a quick set-up. Anyone know of this item,,if not,,,direct me to a good balancer. I have one ,,I think its from Dubro,,it has the 2 wires coming up to pads that go under the wings,,,Its a real pain in the butt. I need one that is a little more solid.. Any ideas?



Thanks a millionTAZZZZ

sig 'pro balancer':

http://centralhobbies.com/Tools/alig...l#CG%20machine

I made one. I used a 2' 2x6 and drilled a series of holes to hold pencils. Put the pencils in with the erasers up.  Space your holes 4", 6" 8" to accomodate various planes sizes. Very simple.

Hi,

This is the best method I've found and suits all sizes and wing mountings.
http://home.mindspring.com/~the-plum...%20Machine.htm

Cheers,

Colin

The balance point is very important to the flying qualities of an airplane, but measuring to 1/16th inch accuracy in order to peg some pre-determined point is not necessary or helpful.

I cut a two thin strips of masking tape, make a measurement, and stick them on the wings at the balance point I want (length of the thin strip parallel to the wing span). Then I check balance at that point, using my finger tips and do what, if anything, I need to get it close. Then I fly the plane. If it's too stable in pitch, I move the CG back a little and try again. If too neutral, or unstable, then forward.

I have found many plans give very conservative balance points. For example, my BUSA Stick 40+ and Stingray both had balance points much further forward than they needed to be. A quick calculation (wing area, stab area, wing chord, and tail arm) showed I should be safe with the CG 3/4 inch aft of point shown on the plans. Knowing that made it much easier to set up the plane, because I didn't have to make heroic efforts to get the CG so far forward. With these and other planes I have often done maiden flights with the CG farther back than the one on the plans. On the other hand, an RCM plan had a mistake and showed a balance point too far back. First flight was like a bucking bronco. Ever since I've done a calculation on every plane before I fly it. But measuring very accurately is not so important because the point you are trying to achieve may not be so appropriate anyway.

I liked the old Goldberg plans, and some others, that showed a range, because that is the reality for any airplane. And what point you wind up picking depends on how you like the plane to fly.

Tazzzz- check out this I posted about the Sig Balancer. Its great. Its a little more than the Great Planes, but a hundred times better.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9622494/tm.htm

I built a sling i hang from my cieling. I took a piece of angle aluminium but you could use a yardstick and place two loops hanging from the ends and place a plumbob in the center then hang the whole thing from the cieling. Place the wings in the loops and the plumbob points to the cg. one thing i have found is tie a knot just under where you attatch the loops to the rod. this hangs the plane from two points and is much more accurate. It is cheap and works really good