Some things to think about:
1. Locking the Tailwheel is good only if yer already lined up parallel to the the runway centerline, and then only if your tail wheel is not cocked.
Roll forward slightly before locking the tail wheel! It is not, however, the be-all-end-all answer. Learn to use your rudder and brakes effectively, and don't drop your flaps until you are ready to leave the ground (Take-off Flaps can compound the torque issue and really give you fits.)
2. Torque works like this...If the prop rotates clockwise the aircraft will tend to roll counter-clockwise and vice versa. Additionally it affects the Yaw axis due to gyroscopic precession. Control input will produce a result 90 degrees after input. In layman's terms ...If you push the stick forward, the effect will be 90 degrees in the direction of rotation causing your craft to Yaw either Left or Right. This result is what is commonly called "Torque Steer". (If you drive a Front-Wheel-Drive auto you'll see the same effect if you accelerate with your hands off the steering wheel.)
Though very weakly modeled in 4.01, it is there. Pre-rigging the Trim, and Trim Controls were implemented/designed to ease the workload for the pilot. Even in the virtual world a long flight without Trim can wear you down.
3. Due to the Torque produced by these powerful engines most aircraft of the time were rigged to fly straight and level at the designed cruising speed. Some aircraft had trim controls in various combinations...Pitch and/or Roll and/or Yaw..., and it can be a daunting task to keep adjusting the trim all the time for various speeds.
When applying Trim in 4.01 it is necessary to apply it very lightly. The Trim Curve is pretty unstable, so 3 or 4 taps of the assigned key(s) is usually sufficient to get what you need. If that is not enough, tap it some more. Any over-compensation with the trim may be reversed with a taps in the opposite direction. Play with it to get what you want. When reversing the Trim, apply one half of the original input to reverse (If you input 8 taps, for example, and over-compensated, then back up 4 taps to check the result. If that is too much reversal, do two taps in the opposite direction. Just keep adjusting until the controls are comfortable for you.
DO NOT just hold down the key! The response is delayed, but once it begins it is quite rapid and will cause you no end of frustration trying to reverse the effect!
A HOTAS like the X-36, X-45, X-52, and CH Systems are even better! Thumb-wheels make the job much easier!!!
Generally, once you reach cruising speed, adjust your trim to a slight "nose up" attitude so a small forward pressure on the stick is sufficient to maintain level flight. Then, if you get into a DF it will be easier to pull into a turn.
4. Torque can be used to your advantage!
Suppose your aircraft rolls to the right: Adjust trim to compensate, but not enough to completely counter-act it. You'll find that turning to the right is much faster AND easier in DF! (Many people do this, so it pays to know the enemy's capabilities before you jump into the fight.)
My Three Cents. (I guess Two wasn't enough
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