Here is a tip based on one I picked up from RCLibrary forum for lateral balancing wings. While this is highly applicable to gliders due to their long wings, it may work for all planes.

Before you cover your wings, join any parts that come apart to create the wing unit. turn it over and balance it on a string that runs down the center from the front to the back. Tape the string in the center if it will have a tendancy to move.

While inverted the wing will tend to drop to the heavy side. Add weight near the tip of the wing in the form of brads, thumbtacks, lead shot or lead split shot fishing weights until the wing balances.

Remove the wing from the balance, temporarily attach the weights and then retest the balance to be sure the first measurement was right. Now permanantly set the weights. Be sure they will not move over time due to hard landings or heat build-up.

http://rclibrary.com/viewtopic.php?p=413#413

Do you have another approach? I would love to hear it.

Happy flying.

Good post. I do it about the same way, and I keep a roll of solid core solder around for weights. I just lay a piece of it on the wing where I want to attach it, as far out as possible, and cut it off until the weight's right to balance the wing. Then I roll it up , usually into a flat coil, and CA it to the rib or wingtip, whatever's handier.

Uhhh, am I reading that wrong, or are you only balancing the wing? If you are, you're doing it wrong.

The wing needs to be attached to the Fuse. Don't forget that you have a muffler hanging out from one side (Or an engine head and muffler depending on the plane) That adds quite a bit of weight to that side.

Balancing should be the LAST thing you do. The plane should be covered, assembled, and ready to fly (Minus Fuel). THEN balanced, both for CG and Laterally.

ok ok ok, so I'm doing it all wrong. It's just that I kinda dislike the looks of a bunch of fishing weights glued to the outside of the covering on one wingtip, which is what you're suggesting by saying it has to be done after its covered.

You do need to have the plane assembled to do the final balance. I use one of two ways to get around the problem of weight on the outside. I either cover everything except the top of the wing before balancing, or complete the covering then drill a hole in the wing tip to insert weight into, then put a small patch over the hole. Solder works very well. The weight of the top covering has never changed the balance by itself, so that is the way I prefer. I use the second method on solid (foam) wings.

Some attention to balancing as you are building is necessary too. I weigh ribs and try to make sure that the heavy ones are inboard and evenly split between left and right halves of the wing, for instance. Same for sheeting. This saves having to use more weight than is absolutely necessary.

Someone, a very long time ago, told me that every screw, nut and bolt should be in place before covering, then removed, so that you are not installing things like horns after the covering is complete. It's a PITA, but, has saved me countless holes punched in a good covering job.

I've heard of building a Tic-Tac box into the wingtips to place weights in. I'm not too fond of the idea because it adds weight to the overall aircraft and it's a bit of a pain. Thought I'd throw it out there anyways.