Alchemy by Bryan Hebert of CK Aero
 

CK Aero is about to release a great new F3A airframe called the Alchemy. This airframe is the result of two years of extensive testing and improvement.

Features:

• Lighter layup.
• Redesigned wings and stabs.
• Taller fin and rudder with no counter balance.
• New style lighter, plug in all composite landing gear.
• Larger shaped, more forward canopy (a clear polycarbonate option coming soon)

All new paint scheme, and the same great price. The model will be available in EP and GP versions.

More details will be published when available.

Cheers,
Jason.

Hi,

It this Alchemy a modified Allure design or a completly from ground up new design based mostly on knowledge and experience from Allure?

/Bo

Hi Bo,

Yes, this model is based on the very successful Allure platform and incorporates the improvements and knowledge Bryan has gained during the last couple of years of testing.

Cheers,
Jason.

Looking forward to more feedback on the flight characteristics as compared to the Allure....where is it better? Does the larger fin improve the extreme KE abilities and make it even better for the likes of KE triangles etc?

Clint

Is the Alchemy the same as the Allure with regards to the same fuselage for outrunner vs Contra?

Do you think there will be a biplane version of the Alchemy or just of the Allure?

The Alchemy is a natural progression of minor improvements. All the changes are the result of three years of testing and relentless field work on the Allure design, and are a progression of the improvements I made for knife edge purity with the Valiant. As the power sources change and equipment changes (weight, Power) I make adjustments to the designs, I do this so the modelers will not have to cram batteries in the nose... hang weight on the tail, ect. The weight of equipment ,batteries, controllers, change drastically every three years just look at the new versions of the contra and how much lighter they are, most don't notice how this will affect setup on a model. I keep track and continually try to adjust the designs for this. The setup on the new Alchemy and Caressa are identical except I changed the down thrust by .2 tenths of a degree. All models will still be able to run any motor setup you want to run right out of the box including the Allure Bipe,

On the Alchemy, Some changes are for cosmetics, some for Manufacturing, some for marketing, and some for flight envelope improvements. Some times a small change can be a very large improvement in the direction I'm taking the design. I look for absolute perfection in my models, in the design ,flight characteristics and in the manufacturing, its a never ending search but I enjoy the pursuit and this allows me keep very good records of the small progression

The canopy change was cosmetic and easy, and if yo have an Allure the Alchemy canopy will fit ,as well as the new wings and Stabs. The fin/rudder changes were to help with ever increasing demands of F3A Patterns, but also to help the rudder layup and movement limits because of the way It`s manufactured. The wings were A Major change, and was done to help the drag profile for battery consumption and weight issues we continually face. The new stabs were a result of testing on the Allure and were used on the V2 Allures since last year. I tested 3 stabs and chose the best ones for overall improvement.

The Allure Bipe employes the Fin /rudder changes and new Stabs. Once I was assured all the Models could use these components I was satisfied the Allure Bipe , Allure Mono, Alchemy Mono and the Updated Shinden ,(The Caressa ) could all use the same Stabs, and the Allure, Alchemy ,and Caressa can use the same wing profile for cg placement this streamlines production and helps me to stay on top of design setup for each model because they are very close in performance,

So, the Allure Bipe has all the improvements on the back end the Alchemy does.
All the new models have new style gear Making them Lighter and stronger a Composite box and I hope you will be able to crash land the Alchemy and the gear stay in tact :)

Bryan

Alchemy Builders Kit
 

Hi Guys,

Here's a picture of Hamish Galloway's Alchemy Builders kit at the factory. This is a colour swap to the factory default colours.

Hamish's Dad Ewan will be building foam core surfaces for this model.

Cheers,
Jason.

Alchemy GP Builders kit progress...
 

Hamish and Ewan (Sandy) Galloway have been busy burning the midnight oil completing their GP Alchemy Builders kit. It’s coming up a real treat! The wings are CNC Foam cut and came out at 375 grams RTF with an MKS HBL575SL Servo.

Hamish is planning to maiden the model on either Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Cheers,
Jason.

Love the color scheme, really sets off the lines well.

Bill

It’s ready to fly....
 

Hamish Galloway’s GP Alchemy Builders kit is ready to fly. It looks stunning!

Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated so fingers crossed it flys tomorrow.

Cheers,
Jason.

It Flys! And very well!
 

To quote Hamish:
“It flys awesome mate!! Just had two flights and it's close to being dialed in.. Rolls better, knife edges better and is generally more locked in..”

What’s the difference?
 

Bryan flew his new Alchemy last weekend. Here are some of his comments on the Model and the differences to the Allure.

Here are a few pictures showing the difference between the Allure and the New Alchemy

You can see the size of the fin and rudder has been changed, the wings were adjusted on the tip, the airfoil thickness reduced and ailerons are slightly larger. The sweep has been changed to help with CG placement.

The canopy is more forward and 1/2” taller (this made a nice change to the pace and rudder power).

The plane is a little lighter allowing for 6000 mAh packs to be used easily.

The plane has no knife edge mixing from zero to end point so it makes effortless power on a knife edge demand. About 25-30% increase in power and authority!

The poise of the model in the air is so nice and ready for anything without compromise. The more I fly it the more I’m impressed I designed this model.

Bryan Hebert

Hello

I love this plane.
My favorite color schema is this below saw in Argentina.
I think my next Harmonie will have same color design.
claude

You are most welcome to use the same colours Claude ..the Alchemy is a very special Aero plane .

Best regards Hamish

Hello Hamish

Others pics of you, friends and planes
claude
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...FZS3NJR0lXcDhB

Cool pics, thanks for sharing!

Did Bryan lower the stab on the Alchemy compared to the Allure?

Hamish,

Have you flown the Allure Bipe yet?

Thanks,

Bill H.

Are the incidence adjusters on the stabs stock or a modification add on?

Hi Bill, we haven’t finished the bipe yet, we are working on it now.. it will be ready hopefully in the new year.. I’ll let you know how it goes..

best regards Hamish

The ARF comes with incidence adjusters fitted.

Cheers,
Jason.

Not that I'm aware of...
Cheers,
Jason.

Thanks Claude

My Alchemy arrived safely at Aerial Concepts in South Africa. A big thanks to Bryan, Dean, Neil and team for making it happen. The good packing resulted in no damage, and we immediately assembled her in the shop. She went together very easily. All wing incidences as set, and even the stab tube is drilled and installed, so you only need to bolt it in place. Very easy and simple. First impressions as compared to the Allure are the thinner wingtips, taller fin and more forward canopy. The plug in stabs are an interesting change, and look to be a great idea.
Attachment 2246339
Attachment 2246340

The plane went together easily enough. You can't really call it a build...rather an assembly. There are some nice additions such as the predrilled stab assembly, and the elevator and aileron exit holes in the fuze are already done. Most of the assembly is straight forward. It comes complete with the factory weights.
Attachment 2246341

The rudder has a nice large hardpoint for the rudder horn. The only frustration is the former at the back of the fuze. The standard holes are too small and the rudder wires will rub against the former. Bryan informs me this will be fixed by the factory. I used a dremel on the end of a stick, and managed to enlarge the opening in the former so that the rudder wires are routed with sufficient space. It was a delicate "operation" and not one that I'd like to do again in a hurry, so best the factory enlarge the opening as that will solve the problem nicely.
Attachment 2246344

There is nothing wrong with the supplied rudder tray, but I used my trusted carbon rod arrangement that is light and stiff.
Attachment 2246343

Aileron is the usual arrangement. I used the included carbon servo arm and aileron horn. They worked very well and are another nice addition to the supplied hardware pack.
Attachment 2246342

More to follow

As Bryan is using the same fuze mould for electric and glow, the electric version has a chin cowl. That is not a problem. The cowl is installed complete with the pins and other fixtures so that it can be removed. Mine had some glue at the front, which once removed allowed me to remove the chin cowl. Very nice and easy to then install the motor. But the chin cowl arrangement does add to the weight. I see no need to retain the ability to remove the chin cowl, and hence trimmed and removed the related excess material, and then glued it back in place. The masking tape around the motor was to protect it from getting lots of dust as the dremeling of the excess material is a dirty job. By removing the material. mounting pins etc I saved 30g. That is fairly significant, and I think gluing the cowl in place also adds to the stiffness of the fuze. All good.
Attachment 2246348
Attachment 2246349
Attachment 2246350

I am running the Brenner v3 contra drive. The same setup that I have used in my Allure with excellent results. It is being driven by a Hacker C54 and Spin 99. Nothing special in terms of the motor mounting. I did the mounting before gluing the chin cowl in place, so that made it very easy to do. Got the alignment nice, and the trust is set up with the nose ring.
Attachment 2246353
Attachment 2246351
Attachment 2246352

The battery tray is set level with the top of the gear plate, and will give me the range of CG I need, with the starting point at the location recommended by Bryan (just behind the rear of the wing tube).