1960 Berkeley Interceptor 35 Stunt CL

[George Hostler]

Sometimes, one comes across a design that catches one's interest. It may or may not be practical, popular or truly stunt worthy, even though it may allege to be. I was impressed with the looks of this aircraft and have always wanted to build one. After about 8 years, I finally found it, bought it for a song on E-Bay. This is the 1960 Berkeley Interceptor 35. It says on the box that it is a combat plane.

Feedback I have received so far from those familiar with it is that it was not all that impressive. Berkeley's owner/manager at the time decided rather than to put some quality into its kits and increase the price to cover, kept things cheap, which discouraged modelers from purchasing their kits. Duke Fox found out the hard way that purchasing Berkeley was a losing proposition. Sig finally wound up with the inventory, retained some of the scale free flight cabin kits as their Craftsman Series until liquidating them and the remaining Berkeley plans in the early 1990's.

A couple days ago, it finally arrived. I opened the box, and the following is what I observed:

• Fuselage is oddly laid out with a 3/8" thick red oak nose portion to mid section of wing.
• Rear is standard 3/8" thick sheet balsa.
• Has a single landing gear like the Sig Skyray.
• Bellcrank is 1/32" thick aluminum, unsuitable.
• Wing "D" box portion penetrates fuselage, trailing edge butts against it.
• No plans, only assembly instructions.
• Wing profile  and moments are similar to the Ringmaster S-1 with about 400 square inches wing area.
• Standard Berkeley quality die cutting and shaping, a little rough by today's standards.

My first step will be to get some 11"x17" quadrille paper and sketch out a set of full sized plans from which to build, trace wing ribs and other parts. I will use portions of the kit wood, but replace the fuselage with a standard balsa one with plywood cheek doublers and maple motor mounts like most other profiles. Power will most likely be one of my Testors .35 Red Heads.

Part of my posting was to express my excitement in this find. The other part was out of curiosity, what others may know about this kit and its history, any experiences in building and flying it, use in competition (formal or with friends), and etc.

[EddyR]

The interceptor was a I-Beam combat model. It was very good for its day. I do not remember it looking very much like the kit you got. I think that it was in Flying Models about 17+ years ago when the I-Beam models articles were being produced  by Fred Carnes.

[George Hostler]

Actually, it was the Berkeley Kit No. P13-4 Lancer, which was an I-beam combat model with sliced ribs. I've got that plan. If you look at the photo of the plan of the I provided, it has solid ribs like the Ringmaster S-1. Spar isn't in the form of the an I-beam.

[EddyR]

YUP you are correct. I built several like the Lancer back in the day. They stood up to combat flying better than the Ringmaster type construction planes did.I still have the plane s for the Orbit Ace

[Curt D Contrata]

I believe the problem was not with the way it flew, but with its flimsy nose.

Curt

[Avaiojet]

George Hostler, "The Ghost!"

That's really a nice looking model!   

I almost bid on it. I had it on my Watch List!!

Both the LE and TE taper, makes a nice looking wing.

I'm not sure, but the fuselage may be drawn incorrectly on the plans??  The kit wood profile looks a bit different?

If I didn't have all these unfinished projects, I would have taken a stab at that Auction.

McCoy .35 red head is a good choice.

I have a couple of them and one runs really well.

There's been talk about home made mufflers for them.

Good luck with that model, I'm sure you will do well by it.

Charles

[john e. holliday]

After seeing George's Ringmaster he will do a great job on this plane.   I too am on the lookout for a Lancer kit or full size drawings.   In some areas it was the combat plane of choice until the flying wings took over.

[dennis lipsett]

After seeing George's Ringmaster he will do a great job on this plane.   I too am on the lookout for a Lancer kit or full size drawings.   In some areas it was the combat plane of choice until the flying wings took over.

John,

There never were full size plans for the Lancer. I liked the one example that I had back then and want to build another one.

[Douglas Ames]

Be careful when you modernize the nose section.
Balance could be an issue (tail heavy), since your replacing a slab of hardwood.
I'd build the tail to be light!

[George Hostler]

After seeing George's Ringmaster he will do a great job on this plane.   I too am on the lookout for a Lancer kit or full size drawings.   In some areas it was the combat plane of choice until the flying wings took over.

John, There never were full size plans for the Lancer. I liked the one example that I had back then and want to build another one.

Actually there were full size plans, as I have them. I have attached a photo. Nearest reproduction facility is Roswell, Lubbock or Amarillo, all 2 hours away. I'd be willing to mail the plans to either of you. One could make copies or scan and PDF for others. Please let me know what you'd like to do.

[George Hostler]

George Hostler, "The Ghost!" That's really a nice looking model! I almost bid on it. I had it on my Watch List!! Both the LE and TE taper, makes a nice looking wing. I'm not sure, but the fuselage may be drawn incorrectly on the plans??  The kit wood profile looks a bit different? If I didn't have all these unfinished projects, I would have taken a stab at that Auction. McCoy .35 red head is a good choice. I have a couple of them and one runs really well. There's been talk about home made mufflers for them. Good luck with that model, I'm sure you will do well by it. Charles

Charles, the pseudo isometric drawings drawings provided with the kit are inaccurate, most likely to foil anyone into scratch building it without buying another kit. The wing's aspect ratio is way off. The wing is shaped more like the Ringmaster S-1, except the the leading edge as you observed is slightly tapered.

AFAIK the McCoy Red Heads don't seem to take too well to mufflering I gather, unless it is a least restrictive one. I'm running mine totally unmuffled. That may create problems in other flying fields, but where I am at, the nearest neighbor is a quarter mile away. A 1/4 mile oval dirt track is up the road. Mufflering isn't a requirement where I am at.

[john e. holliday]

George, if you do dopy the plans let me know total cost as I would like a set.   I bet Barry Baxter would trade you some plans for a set of those.  I think he is always looking for plans for combat and stunt. 

[George Hostler]

George, if you do copy the plans let me know total cost as I would like a set. I bet Barry Baxter would trade you some plans for a set of those.  I think he is always looking for plans for combat and stunt.

John, I sent both Dennis and you a Stunt Hangar PM.

[pat king]

George has agreed to loan me the Lancer plans to have them scanned. I will then provide full size .pdf files to whoever would like a set. I will also do a CAD plan and cutting file if anyone wants to buy a laser cut kit. I can easily stiffen up the nose without adding a bunch of weight.

Thanks,  Pat

[john e. holliday]

Thanks Pat,  let the old DOC know too as I would like one.    Now I need to get a stooge made so I can fly my Ringmaster Twin by my self.   

[George Hostler]

George has agreed to loan me the Lancer plans to have them scanned. I will then provide full size .pdf files to whoever would like a set. I will also do a CAD plan and cutting file if anyone wants to buy a laser cut kit. I can easily stiffen up the nose without adding a bunch of weight. Thanks,  Pat

Thanks Pat for going the extra length on this, I'll get the plans to you soon. I wasn't quite sure if appropriate to publicly mention what you relayed to me on BOTR, hence the PM's to John and Dennis. I was impressed by the interest in this legacy model.