Alex
Are you using a 172 cockpit or building a mockup? or are you building an aircraft withing one of the flight sims like MSFS or X plane?
If it is MSFS then you are limited by the flight engine within MSFS which does some things well and others badly.
Rob Young was excellent at tricking MSFS into doing things in a more realistic way. You have limitations on two fronts the MSFS flight dynamics engine and the control system neither which do a fantastic job of simulating the differening control forces and movement involved in flight.
Good luck! Take yourself off to an airfield around London and place your request on the notice boards or ask. I am sure there are many who will gladly help especially if you offer to chip in for the flight.
Pace