I use
www.goflying.org to get a plan for my route - it is a free service provided by another PPrNer.
BUT - as all these services have disclaimers about accuracy and reliability I also double check the results with my whizzwheel - it takes literally seconds and as Whirlybird points out it is always there, no batteries, accurate etc.
I too found the whizzwheel quite difficult to get to grips with. Different lines representing different parts of a triangle etc. until an instructor showed me a short cut which I only promised to use once I understood the principles and could use the 'standard' method.
e.g. following the example in Trevor T. Navigation, page 74.
TAS 97, W/V 320/25, TR 295
Take your CRP-1 or other...
1. Set the blue circle over the TAS (97)
2. Turn the inner circle so that 320 (Wind dir) is aligned with INDEX at the top
3. Mark a dot 25 (Wind vel) units BELOW the blue circle. I.e. a dot on the vertical centre line at 72.
4. Turn the inner circle so that 295 (TR) is aligned with INDEX at the top.
Your dot should now be on the 75 speed line, and 8 degrees to the LEFT of the centre line.
5. Move the 295 marker at the top to the LEFT so it is aligned with 8 on the drift scale.
Your dot should now be on the 73 speed line, and about 5.5 degrees LEFT.
6. Move the 295 marker on the inner circle so it is aligned with 5.5 on the LEFT hand drift scale
Your dot should now be on the 74 speed line, and about 6 degrees LEFT.
7. Move the 295 marker on the inner circle so it is aligned with 6 on the LEFT hand drift scale
Your dot should now be on the 74 speed line, and about 6 degrees LEFT.
You have reached your destination, the dot and the drift offset are the same.
8. Read off the heading below the INDEX mark: 301
9. Read off the speed on the speed line: 74
OK. So Trevor T. gets 301 and 73 but I'll allow the 1 knot due to the fatness of the dot on the CRP-1.
Basically - you are making smaller and smaller changes until the the two offset numbers meet. Remember that if the dot moves to the right side initially then work with the RIGHT drift scale. No lines, no triangles, nice and simple.
Using this method a HDG and GS calculation can be made in seconds which is mainly what you will need. Since the exam I've never had to worry about calculating W/V etc. in the air.
Saying all that - I'm now learning to use VORs and GPS much more and I make more use of them in future I guess.