NSRCA Newsletter K_FACTOR
TRIMMING CHART
By Mike Chipchase (Australia)
TO TEST FOR	TEST PROCEDURE	OBSERVATIONS	ADJUSTMENTS
1. Control neutrals	Fly model straight and level	Use the transmitter trims for hands-off straight and level flight	Adjust clevises to centre transmitter trims
2. Control throws	Fly model and apply full deflection of each control in turn	Check the response of each control	Aileron: High rate - 3 rolls in 4 seconds   Low Rate - 3 rolls in 6 seconds Elevator: High rate - to give a smooth square corner   Low rate - to give a loop of approximately 130 ft diameter Rudder: High rate - approx 30-35 degrees for stall turns   Low rate - to maintain knife edge flight
3. Decalage	Power off vertical dive, cross wind (if any). Release controls when model vertical (elevator trim must be neutral)	A. The model continues straight down B. The model starts to pull out (nose up) C. The model starts to tuck in (nose down)	A. No adjustment B. Reduce incidence C. Increase incidence
4. Centre of gravity	Method 1: Roll model into near vertical turn Method 2: Roll model inverted	A. Nose drops B. Tail drops A. Lots of down elevator required to maintain level flight B. No down elevator required to maintain level flight or model climbs	A. Add weight to tail B. Add weight to nose A. Add weight to tail B. Add weight to nose
5. Tip weight (coarse adjustment)	Fly model straight and level upright. Check aileron trim maintains wing level. Roll model inverted, wings level. Release aileron stick	A. Model does not drop a wing B. Left wing drops C. Right wing drops	A. No adjustment required B. Add weight to right tip C. Add weight to left tip
6. Side thrust	Fly model away from you into any wind. Pull into a vertical climb (watch for deviation as it slows down)	A. Model continues straight up B. Model veers left C. Model veers right	A. No adjustment needed B. Add right thrust C. Reduce right thrust (move thrust line left)
7. Up/Down thrust	Flow model on a normal path into any wind, parallel to strip at, a distance of about 100 m away from you (elevator trim should neutral as per test 3). Pull into a vertical climb and neutralize elevator.	A. Model continues straight up B. Model pitches up (goes toward top of model) C. Model pitches down (goes toward bottom of model)	A. No adjustment needed B. Add down thrust C. Reduce down thrust
8. Tip weight (fine adjustment)	Fly the model away from you into any wind. Pull into a fairly tight inside or outside loop (one loop only)	A. Model comes out with wings level B. Model comes out with right wing low C. Model comes out with left wing low	A. No adjustment needed B. Add weight to left tip C. Add weight to right tip (or remove from left tip)
9. Aileron differential	Method 1: Fly the model towards you. Before it reaches you, pull into a vertical climb. Neutralize the controls and then half-roll the model. Method 2: Fly the model on a normal pass and do three or more rolls.	A. No heading changes B. Heading change opposite to direction of roll command (i.e.. Heading veers to model's and your left after right roll C. Heading change in direction of roll command A. Roll axis on model centre line B. Roll axis off to same side of model as roll command (i.e.. right roll, roll axis off right wingtip) C. Roll axis off to opposite side of model as roll command	A. Differential ok B. Increase differential C. Decrease differential
10. Dihedral	Fly model on a normal pass and roll into knife-edge flight. Maintain height with top rudder (do this test in both left and right knife-edge flight)	A. Model has no tendency to roll out of a knife-edge flight B. Model rolls in direction of applied rudder C. Model rolls in opposite direction of applied rudder	A. Dihedral Ok B. Reduce dihedral C. Increase dihedral
11. Elevator alignment (for models with independent elevator halves)	Fly model away from you into any wind. Pull up into an inside loop. Roll inverted and push up into an outside loop	A. No rolling tendency when elevator applied B. Model rolls in same direction in both tests C. Model rolls in opposite direction in both tests	A. Elevators in correct alignment B. Elevator halves misaligned. Either, raise one half or lower the other C. One elevator half has more throw than the other (model rolls to the side with the most throw). Reduce throw on one side or increase throw on the other.
12. Pitching in knife-edge flight	Fly model on a normal pass and roll into knife-edge flight. Maintain height with top rudder (do this test in both left and right knife-edge flight)	A. There is no pitch up or down B. The nose pitches up (the model climbs laterally C. Nose pitches down (model dives laterally	A. No adjustment needed B. Alternate cures:   1. Move the C.G. aft   2. Increase wing incidence   3. Add down trim to ailerons C. Reverse the above
Notes:  1. Trimming must be done in calm conditions  2. Abbreviations are used above  3. Make multiple tests before making adjustments  4. If any changes are made, go back over previous steps and verify or readjust as necessary