Do you remember Berkeley kits?

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Do you remember Berkeley kits? If you were aware of model airplanes during the period from World War II until the early 1960’s, you probably do. There were dozens of them, maybe half of them free flights and the rest control-liners (except for a few intended for something exotic and mysterious called radio control). Nearly all of them were scale jobs. They were all balsa wood models…former-and-stringer construction and sometimes solid (carved) balsa fuselages for the designs intended for bigger engines. By the late 40’s you could count on finding die-cut parts and silkspan covering material in the boxes. During the 50’s, when I was a kid trying to learn everything about model planes all at once and building whatever I could afford to buy at the local hobby shop (which wasn’t much), a Berkeley kit was a special treat. The typical Berkeley “Flying Scale” kit was a free flight job of about three-foot wingspan intended for rubber power, or maybe conversion to use a 1/2A glow engine like a Wasp or an OK Cub, and I remember that most of them were priced at $3.95. That was a lot more than, say, Comet kits of about the same size that sold for fifty cents or maybe a dollar. There were some bigger Berkeley kits of four or five foot span, but they cost at least seven or eight bucks and I never permitted myself to get very excited about them.

I had two of the carved fuselage control line models, a P-51 and a P-38, both Christmas gifts, but never got up the courage to try flying them even though I was by then pretty good with something like a Ringmaster. I built a whole series of the 1/2A free flight models and tried to fly most of them without really knowing what I was doing. A few years later when I was a bit more grown up and a whole lot more skilled at model building, the quality of the entire Berkeley line suffered from the use of really bad balsa as a cost control measure and before anyone really noticed, they were gone. These days you won’t find the name Berkeley on a hobby shop shelf anywhere, and most modelers have never heard of them. There is one balsa wood model airplane kit now on the market that can be traced back to the Berkeley lines…do any of you know what it is?

There are Berkeley kits around, if you know where to look. Check out model airplane swap meets, poke around in the stacks of dusty old kits you might be fortunate enough to run into, and you could be lucky enough to spot one of the old red, black and white kit boxes. They are considered collector’s items, and the few that have survived the years in excellent condition command serious prices. I have never considered myself a collector, but I am very much interested in old time balsa wood airplane kits like the Berkeley line that are no longer pristine or even complete but preserved well enough that a determined, skilled aeromodeller can actually build an airplane from them. For me, building a model airplane I remember from my youth, using all the skills I have acquired over the years to do a far better job than I could ever have dreamed of in those days, and then actually flying it using state-of-the-art micro radio control and electric power is a nostalgia trip to write home about.

That’s what I just finished doing a few weeks ago on one of those building benches out in my shop. Not so long ago I got the chance to bring home one of those old Berkeley kits, the 36” span Piper Super Cruiser from the free flight scale series, one of the designs I’d never tried to build as a kid. At first I intended to build it exactly per the old plans, add a simple geared brushed motor and a pair of servos for the rudder and elevator, and give it the silkspan-and-clear-dope finish intended by the original designer. But…somewhere along the way my imagination took control and I ended up finishing the Super Cruiser as if it had become the answer to a fantasy I might have had as a thirteen year old modeler. I altered a bit of structure here and there to add scale dihedral and ailerons, included a working cabin door and a steerable tailwheel, included a brushless motor and four-function micro radio and gave it a covering of Japanese tissue and a finish of nitrate dope and airbrushed Stits PolyTone color…just as if the most outrageous, never-in-a-million-years kid’s dream of the perfect scale model had come to life in my hands.

I think she looks great…and I’ll get some flight shots to show you once the weather gets better.

42 Comments

  1. Bob,came accross your website today (saturday 4-23-2011) I can relate to the old Berkeley’s, as
    i’m in my late sixty’s. 1st Berkeley was the Culver V. Over the years, I have collected the
    Berkeley kits of which I now have close to 50 or
    so. Along with others (Sterling, Sig, Comet, Cleveland, Etc.) You are correct that the value has gone skyhigh on these kits. I guess when the Lord takes me , I will build them up stairs.
    Take care, Steve Douglas, Charlotte, NC

    • Steve,

      It’s good to hear from you. Are you planning to build any of them, or are they more important to you as unbuilt kits? It works both ways.

      I took the little Super Cruiser out for her first flight a couple of days ago…all went well. I need to tweak a litle more rudder coupling into the aileron input to get nice smooth turns( because I built in scale dihedral) but she’s gonna be a winner for those calm summer evenings coming up.

      Bob

    • Amen. Simple balsa gliders like the AJ Walker “74 Fighter” & the Guillows (sp?) similar plane that sold for a dime in the ’50s & ’60s, can again be purchased for upwards of $22.00!
      I spent most of my model-building days w/Monogram kits. But one of my favorites was Berkeleys’ “Bootstrap A-RC”, which I covered in silk!

  2. Only one kit from Berkeley still available? Obviously, the Sig J-3 is Chuck Hollinger’s design which was a Berkeley kit but the Astro Hog (I know, not scale) was also a Berkeley kit, tho Sig doesn’t say their kit is descended from the Berkeley.

    • George,

      You’re right…I didn’t think about the Hog. Clearly you have been around this game for a while to know that the J-3 was originally Chuck Hollinger’s design. If I have my facts right, when Chuck designed that airplane he was living in Tacoma, Washington, about twenty five miles from where I am sitting.

      Bob

      • If I recall correctly, he also did a PT-19 which I believe Berkeley also offered. Too bad its not still available. Speaking of PT-19s, what plan or kit is the PT-19 in your photo gallery? Nice pics but they could use some captions to explain what is going on. It looks like tissue covering. Very nice little model.

        And yes, I’ve been modeling off and on since about ’48, starting with Strombecker Solids (Piper Super Cruiser)and progressing to Monogram Speedi-bilts. If that doesn’t date me, nothing will. Your build series on the Flyline Great Lakes makes me wish I still had my kit.

        • George,

          I think the Hollinger PT-19 was a Jetco kit. If I could find one I’d probably snag it.

          Go back to the Building Model Airplanes page on my site and click the TOP tab, which will open another section including all the text material that goes with the photos of each of those airplanes.

          The little PT-19 began life as an Easy Built ff rubber kit, much modified for electric RC.

          • I found the caption page yesterday, finally. THIS is the page I had trouble finding again. I remember that Easy Built had a couple of kits that they touted as R/C models. I suppose the PT-19 was one of them? I did find a TigerKitten kit on eBay yesterday and its now on its way to me. I always liked the lines of that model.

          • Actually, the PT 19 was (and is) one of the kits Easy Built promotes as a rubber power FF. The stuff I included in the text you had trouble finding alludes to all that. BTW, the glitch in finding those text files has been fixed…have a look.

            Bob

    • Found several models of berkeleys few days ago in ceilin of house that was purchased. Most were damaged. Original boxes an instructions. Might put in garbage because i dont want them

  3. Well, it seems I don’t have a TigerKitten kit after all. The sale was canceled after the fact! So, how are you coming with your laser cut version?

  4. I’m just getting back into the hobby after a long absence and I’d never heard of Berkeley before. I’ve been cruising through the balsa kits on Ebay and mostly been checking out Guillows, Comet and Sterling. I also found a nice selection of Berkeley. You’re not kidding when you say they command a premium price.

  5. Interesting to hear the name of Berkeley kits. In the 60’s my uncle was briefly partners in a hobby shop. When it closed he gave my dad a Berkeley models “B26 Invader” model kit with 87 1/2 inch wingspan. Its huge! The kit was half built.A guy contacted wanting to “borrow” it. He let the guy take the plans with him only to find out he left a false phone number! My uncle did not know the guy either so the plans were gone. I still have the kit and someday hope to figure out the proper locations for the fuselage bulkheads. The wings are built. To date I haven’t found anyone who has ever heard of the kit let alone has a plans set.

    • Don,

      Let me know if you still are in need of the plans for the B26 Invader. I have them will be more than happy to send you a copy for the price of copying and shipping.

      Jim

  6. hello mr Benjamin i picked up an old berkeley king size flying scale model kit it is a aeronca c-3 it is a 1 1/2 scale 54 in. wing span. it is unbuilt in the box decals and huge single instruction sheet included copy write 1957 i cant say every peice is there but the box is packed with balsa strips, planks, different shaped blocks and several sheets that are covered with parts that you cut out.and the paper to cover the wings and fuseloge etc etc have no idea of value . i paid 30 bucks is this something you would like to own?? clayton 208-713-0632 thanks.

  7. I need some help, looking around the Berkley line I came across this message board. If you go to the video “Flicks planes” you will see 6 videos his grandson his posted describing his grandfather (Flick) getting back into control line flying. He has brought back to life a 65 year old airplane the yellow and red profile with solid wood wings. I’d like to determine what this plane is and who made it, possibly a Berkley but I doubt it. I recall this plane and realize was the first plane kit I built. I’d like to find the drawings and build it for my Grandson. anyone that can help will be appreciated.

  8. I also built a flew several of the Berkeley control liners; a Sr. Puddle Jumper was about the first. Later, a P-6E very neat model. Also my first R/C was a Henry Struct “Bootstrap”, then a “RC Sea Cat”. I know I bought a scale B-25 but never built it and I do not know where it got lost. I still have an in the box, control line stunt .60 size “Snark”.

  9. For Don Doherty. This is probably a bit late, but just in case you are still watching this web site, I have the Berkeley B-26 Invader kit that you have. I also have a set (two sheets) of plans.
    Would be happy to copy them for you and post from here. There would be maybe three sheets per plan (total six sheets) and I would need to send in a tube.
    Am happy to do this for you at cost. A valuable kit like that is of little use without a plan.The copies would be about $5.00 per sheet ($12), the tube I don’t know and the AIR MAIL about $30.00. I live in Australia.
    My e-mail is jrichardleahy@gmail.com. Regards, Richard Leahy.

  10. Does anybody remember a little .020 profile Berkely kit called “Baby Yank” ?? It was an early “ARF” FF and flew quite well as a small field sport flyer.. Love to find one.
    I also reciently scratch built an old Laumer design called “Twin Lizzie” .. I had waited 50 years to build it.. Scaled it to 137% RET.. flies a peach on 1300mah 3 cell Lipo and brushless..

    Thanks for the website.. this was fun..
    “Love an Oldie”
    Al

  11. Does anybody remember a little .020 profile Berkely kit called “Baby Yank” ?? It was an early “ARF” FF and flew quite well as a small field sport flyer.. Love to find one.
    I also recently scratch built an old Laumer design called “Twin Lizzie” .. I had waited 50 years to build it.. Scaled it to 137% RET.. flies a peach on 1300mah 3 cell Lipo and brushless..

    Thanks for the website.. this was fun..
    “Love an Oldie”
    Al

    • Clete,

      My best guess would be between $100 and $200, depending on the condition. A pristine, as-new kit might be worth more if you could find the right collector. As that kit was expressly designed for control-line flying, it’s not one in which I’d have any interest myself as an old time conversion project.

      Bob

    • I have collected Berkeley Kits for about fifteen years. What wonderful kits they are. I bought a Berkeley B-25 on E-Bay in December 2009. I paid $325.00 and thought that was a reasonable price. Later I paid about the same price for a B-26 Invader, also on E-Bay.

      The number of Berkeley kits being listed on E-Bay now are very few in number. The same applies to McCoy motors which I also collect. RL.

  14. Do any of you old timers remember a Berkeley sailboat model with a 36″ preformed hull that was a yawl named the “Tiki” as I recall. I wonder if these kits ever show up on eBay. If so, what sort of price might these go for. I built one of these back in the late fifties and I think the price might have been around $30 at that time.

  15. Dear Richard, I recently bought on eBay a 36 inch model sailboat described as Tahati by Berkeley. It is a yawl rig with blue sails and a raised cabin just forward of the cockpit. the hull is plastic and the deck is wood with some mahogany. The mast is snapped and the RC great is gone, but I am trying to restore it. Any info you have would be much appreciated. Larry

  16. In the early 60s I built a lot of FF scale models. Somehow in the workshop there had always been a kit, Berkeley B-17 Flying Fortress, which challenged my imagination. I remember carving the fuselage for nearly a year, listening to TV and movies about the plane. I read every book and magazine, and went to airshows to enjoy the sight and rumble.

    I had to carve the fuselage thin enough to see light through, to keep weight low. I used 4 Golden Bee motors which performed so well for decades. The nose art was great, took first in CL scale at the NATS. Hard to describe how much fun and education I derived from that one Berkeley B-17 Flying Fortress Kit. Today it would have been RC, RC in the early 60s could not always be adapted too easily for some airplanes..

  17. Bob:
    Thanks so much for your Berkeley blog. It really touched a nerve when I first read it. In fact, your blog launched a renewed interest in me for revisiting the 35 inch span free flight civilian aircraft line from Berkeley.

    My godfather built the Aeronca sedan when I was a kid and after the initial thrill of victory had worn off a bit, he turned it over to us kids to fly and ‘manage’. I think we had well over 100 beautiful flights on that magnificent bird before we retired it- intact. We even kept a flight log.

    Well, I remember well what a great flying little floater that sedan was and it dawned on me that, with such a favorable wing loading, they would make excellent r/c electric conversions. So I found somebody who could sell me a short kit of the sedan, including full size plans. It is up next in my building que.

    I sort of went ‘all in’ on an auction for a Berkeley Interstate Cadet this week. in 30 hours, we will see if I won it or not. Before this auction, I had no idea this kit existed in the Berkeley line. Do you know where I can find a complete listing of the 35 inch scale FF Berkeley kits?

    Seems like there was a whole bunch of ‘em…

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  19. About 1947, I built my first free flight powered model. It was a Berkley kit, I believe – but it is a few years ago. It had an .02 engine with a glow plug.

    I did not know that it was the custom to allow the engine to run for only 10 or 20 seconds, and launched it with a full tank of fuel. Only… to watch it disappear out of sight high in the sky.

    I was heart broken, for the loss of my efforts, and for the cost of the airplane which was immense for a 13 year old boy in a small town.

    It was a day which lives long in my heart.

  20. I grew up on Berkeley kits as scale freeflight models. My godfather also built the Aeronca Sedan and we must have had 150 flights with that as kids, using an .020 with the nylon prop on backwards to slow everything down a little bit. That single model, floating along gently in the afternoon sun, hooked me for life. The Sedan was a stunning flyer because the wing loading was very low. Other Berkekey kits had much higher wing loading due to sheeted surfaces and C grade balsa. The Cessna 180 and the Bird Dog were examples of heavier airframes in this line. I don‘t know where the Piper falls into the mix. I have been flying the interstate Cadet- one of their lighter wing loading models, and I am about to re-engineer the Berkeley Cessna 180 from the plans to also lighten it up a bunch. I am a confesses Cessnaholic, currently not in treatment. seems to me that the lower the wing loading, the better these things seem to fly. What is your experience, Bob?

  21. I built a number of Berkeley kits including the 54″wsp straight tailed Cessna 172 . RC was two-tube receiver and CW transmitter from mail-order parts . The model used a compound rubber powered escapement controlled by a sensitive relay . Of course maiden flight lasted milliseconds due to rudder escapement stick or unwinding ( memory is foggy)
    I still have the Berkeley Stinson SR-9 powered by old Hobby Lobby 400XT brushless motor and modern RC gear. My first Berkeley Aeronca Sedan was a light weight free flight floater powered by Pee Wee .020 and slow turning oversize prop. Nowadays I fly electric powered Pat Tritle RC designs , am about to start his DC-3 with “Flagship Detroit” graphics by Callie. I go by “E-Challenged” on RC Groups.

  22. Oh .. Been looking for something like this…

    I also have a collection of Berkeley Kits.. and would like to correspond with other collectors..

    Wondering what to do with them… I should make arrangements and make sure they go on to someone who values them.

    Have to consider selling them sometime I guess. Anyone reading this with an interest send me an e-mail to dave@biztechind.biz.

  23. Bob, back at you from over 9 years ago. Sent you message back in 2011 stating that I
    had over 50 Berkeley kits at that time—-Well here we are in middle of 2020 and fifty has
    grown to well over 200. my dad had a PT-19 and crashed in it. July 4 1947 (it was his 33rd
    birthday) and I was 3 and a half. But even after his death, i always enjoyed being around
    planes and took up building kits. I have the UNBUILT kits everywhere. Would enjoy
    hearing any comments. STAY SAFE

  24. I am almost 82 years old and still at model building and flying. I built a number of Berkeley model plane and boat kits back in the 60’s and 70’s. Berkeley had a wide range of models to choose from and even some DIY single channel tube-type RC system parts kits. I made a transmitter case from galvanized sheet metal and installed Berkeley mail-order components and came up with a CW type RC system to work a Berkeley rubber band escapement actuator via a “sensitive relay”. Had very little success with it.

    Nowadays I am a fan of and highly recommend Pat Tritle model plane designs. I have struggled with a tendency to make nice lightly wing loaded electric powered scale models too heavy to fly well by inlaying balsa between stringers and adding details not needed for slow scale-like flight ,with little landing gear damage. My second Berkeley Aeronca Sedan electric powered detailed 36″ wsp model flew like a crash waiting to happen. My first .020 Pee Wee powered free flight version flew beautifully.

    I still have a large stash of old Sterling, Flyline and other kits being nibbled on by mice. Gotta get busy and build some of them.

  25. Me again, just read your remarks about old kits that were poorly designed and too fragile to fly. The old Capitol Stinson SR-9 looked like a typical 54″ Comet design. I built a Comet Aeronca Chief for electric power a number of years ago beefing up the structure and landing gear , cabin and cowl areas and adding spars to the wings. I remember the stock Comet kits with hardwood wheels , triangular balsa gear legs and suggested use of pins as axles for the hardwood wheels. As it turned out, the Aeronca Chief was a great flyer on three channels. BTW, I have always had an obsession with Stinson Reliants, in particular the SR-7. It all started when I built the little Comet kit back in the late 40’s. Since then I have built all of the Reliant kits I could find. My latest is the 59″ wsp Pat Tritle Reliant kit. Of course I had to bash the kit from an SR-10 to an SR-7 and make it somewhat overweight with inlayed balsa, beefed up landing gear fairings, and wheel spat mountings. This model has very scale like delicate wing flaps. I struggled with getting my Hitec Aurora 9 transmitter and flap linkage to give me 3 -position, trimmable flaps with slowed servo action. The model flew quite well despite my over-feeding it with with added structure and “improvements” which doubled the total weight. It was nearly destroyed when the right wing strut detached and wing panel slid off the tube mounting at 100 feet altitude. After a 6 month rebuild and two tone recovering and a new set of Pepsi-Cola graphics from Callie, somewhat heavier it flew quite well again. Reliant kit is available from Brodak and from Manzano Laser works, go to “Pat’s Custom Models” to see the many designs and how to articles by Pat Tritle

  26. Back ca. 1962 i bought the Berkeley B-25 but never had courage to build it. Sold the kit. Even came with spun alu cowlings.
    They also had L19, L-20, and Helio Courier. Would love to have those now.

  27. I still have one of my father’s Bootstraps model airplanes that he built almost 60 years ago, it is not flyable but interesting to look at.

  28. I’m 78 and built a lot of Cleveland and Berkeley kits back in the day. FF and CL. Favorite was the Royal Rudderbug. I am looking for a complete kit of the Pitts CL model “little Stinker.
    Mike

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