Jetex.org: Kits - The Berkeley Range




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Model Aircraft Kits from Berkeley

Berkeley was a prolific producer of aircraft kits for Jetex power. The kits covered a wide variety of types, ranging from simple balsa profiles to sophisticated scale models with multiple-mode power.

On this page, we show a small selection from their range.

What you'll find here:

	X-16
	TEMCO 50
	Sil-o-jets
	TEMCO 150 Trainer
	T2J Trainer
	NA AJ-1 Savage

X-16

- photo by ebay vendor

Berkeley's simple sheet balsa two-stage X-16 came "ready-to-assemble", "complete with 'PSST-50' Jet-Rocket motor". There was "nothing to build" and one could "fly it in minutes".

The model illustrated on the left was sold on ebay in April 2003 for $US42.00.

Berkekey X-16 kit contents

TEMCO 50

TEMCO 50 kit

- photo by Marty Richey

Berkeley's simple profile model of the TEMCO TT-1 Pinto, for 50 power, came "ready-to-fly", "complete with 'PSST-50' engine".

This beautifully preserved (and beautifully photographed) kit comes from Marty Richey's "extensive collection of balsa/tissue jet model kits, plans, Jetex, Rapier, EDF and prop stuff." Marty says of this kit:

"I searched ebay for close to three years to finally find this Berkeley TEMCO 50 RTF with PSST 50 motor offered. This one is as I received it. It was never flown but someone had the foresight to buy the Jetex 50 fuel it needed. Maybe a present?

"It's a large, hefty model. Wingspan is 17 3/8" with 17½" length. Empty weight with PSST 50 is 40.9gms and loaded with two pellets, launch weight is 45.4gms.

"Fuselage is fat 1/8" balsa, very hard and rough cut. The wings are preformed and fat 1/6" hard balsa. The tail surfaces are fat 1/20" balsa. The silk-screening is darker than it shows in the picture."

Sil-o-jets

Sil-o-jets kit

-Marty Richey

-eBay vendor ‘empispeedequipment’

Berkeley's three 'Sil-o-jets' were also simple "ready to fly" profile models, and came "complete with jet engine", the engine being a Jetex 50.

The top photo is of a kit from Marty Richey's collection. Marty provides these specifications of the 'Sil-o-jets':

Grumman F9F Cougar, 13½" wingspan by 13½" length, 28.5g with empty Jetex 50 motor
Northrop F-89 Scorpion, 13½" wingspan by 14" length, 27.5g with empty Jetex 50 motor
Lockheed F-94 Starfire, 13½" wingspan by 13 3/8" length, 25.6g with empty Jetex 50 motor

TEMCO 150 Trainer

TEMCO 150 Trainer kit

- photo by Marty Richey

Plan available for this kit from Allen Hunt

The TEMCO 150 was a much more elaborate model of the TT-1 Pinto than its junior TEMCO 50 sibling. It boasted "die-cut balsa parts", "moulded plastic parts" and "shock mounted wing panels". It's shown here with one of its recommended propulsion units, a Jetex Scorpion with augmenter tube. The other recommended motor was the Jetex Jetmaster. The kit did not include a motor of either type. Wingspan is 30".

This is a further kit from Marty Richey's collection. Marty says, "They are very rare on ebay and priced accordingly. The proportions of this aircraft are good – it should be built to see how she flies."

North American T2J Jet Trainer

NA T2J Trainer advertisement

- Model Airplane News, Oct. 1958 p.64 (modified)

Berkeley were quick off the mark in 1958 with their kit of the North American T2J 'Buckeye' two-place jet trainer, since the first full-size aircraft had only just had its maiden flight on January 31 of that year (there being no prototype).

They included in their kit another recently-released product of American engineering, the PSST Double-50 motor, claiming that this made their T2J model particularly suitable for tethered flying:

"The Navy's newest Jet Trainer [is] powered by the new PSST 'Double-50' for extra long flights. Using a double fuel charge makes it practical for tether flight on monoline.

"A really beautiful airplane. Easy to build – a fine flyer!"

North American AJ-1 Savage "Controliner"

NA AJ-1 Savage kit

- photo by ebay vendor

This scale model of the Navy's 1948 carrier-based bomber was designed by Berkeley "for twin engines plus Jetex…perfect scale!".

The full-sized Savage was a product of its manufacturer's attempts to provide power using piston engines and a jet engine on the same airframe. The AJ-1 used two piston engines for long-range cruising. It then fired a 4,600-pound-thrust turbojet engine for extra speed over the target.

Berkeley modelled this dual-mode power with "two .043 to .099 Engines, and Jetex 100, 200, or new Jetmaster 150 unit". To compensate for variations in thrust, it incorporated "Adjustable balance!".

The kit illustrated here sold on ebay in February 2003 for $US125.44.

Acknowledgements

Illustration sources:
- Photograph of TEMCO 50, Sil-o-jets, TEMCO 150 kits: Marty Richey
- Photograph of X-16 and Savage kits spotted on ebay by John McKnight
- Advertisement for T2J kit: Bill Henderson
Information sources:
- TEMCO 50, Sil-o-jets, TEMCO 150 kits: Marty Richey

Queries? Corrections? Additions? .