After trying out my shining new (old) Carenado C-152 I was not sure how to the the trim for takeoff looking at the panels. So I thought that perhaps a better way would be to jump outside and run around to the back of the plane to see the elevator. Looking at that I ended up with the same question - how would you set trim looking at the elevator? As an example the non-pilot (me) might think that a slight up-angle set would be appropriate but is it? Does anyone have any know-how on trim setting using this method?

I don't think doing it visually from the back external view would be particularly useful. It's true that there are some aircraft with ground only adjustable trim tabs where you really do have to go to the control surface and bend the metal plate into position to set up a trim setting (they are a pain in the &@($*), but the C-152 isn't one of them.What normally happens when using trim in Cessna trainers, is that you do what is effectively a 'test flight' and visually note the trim control's position for both flaps up and flaps down typical speeds, which then allows you to rapidly switch to those trim settings when you change configuration with the flaps or whatever, by simply moving the trim control to the spot you know is correct. You need to do that because despite them being mass produced, they all fly a little bit differently from one another. I've flown aircraft where trimming was particularly easy because the controls were worn in enough to make the correct settings apparent just from looking at the way the finish had worn off the control, but then again, by the time a cockpit gets that worn, the thing is probably more in need of trim to fly straight anyway! Unless the textures have been modeled in that way, to indicate wear and tear, you won't necessarily have that luxury in FS.More often than not, you'd probably want to trim a C-152 to fly hands off at somewhere around 60-70 knots. But you might find this guide to doing it all properly useful. It's for the real aircraft, but you can apply it all for a simulated one too:http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight...g/cessna152.htmAl

After trying out my shining new (old) Carenado C-152 I was not sure how to the the trim for takeoff looking at the panels.

The Carenado 152 actually has a pretty readable trim gauge.. in the middle of this picture..

zero point in trimming from external view, as its a force you are trimming, NOT a direct mechanical relationship. Too many causation factors, not the least of which is knowing precisely how the surface works, so knowing whether the trim tab acts in a force multiplier or de-multiplier sense. A fully-moving tailplane does NOT have the trim tab working the same way as an elevator, for example.In FS it is easy: Set trim to middle, on take off move joystick or yoke aftwards slightly, then use the `up` trim to allow the wheels to leave the ground. You are in trim.

Thanks for all the input. I was curious if there was a better way than the "takeoff" mark on the panel. Always trying to see if there is a better way. Looks like the Carenado 152 is "on the mark".

Thanks for all the input. I was curious if there was a better way than the "takeoff" mark on the panel. Always trying to see if there is a better way. Looks like the Carenado 152 is "on the mark".

The mark is only `right` for one particular narrow range of payload, fuel load, speeds, even rigging of the controls themselves. Mostly it's used as as starting point, then you `feel` your way from there. You can't do that in FSX without FSForce, and even then it's not perfect, but better. Strange that clever mechanical minds can't figure a far superior replication of force feedback in sims than a simple position reference.