Choosing a Chip

[Bruce Shipp]

I’ve always wanted a Chipmunk.  In looking at the available options of kits and/or plans, I have found three:

RSM’s Joe Dill Chipmunk

Sig’s Super Chipmunk

Sig’s Van Loo Chipmunk

Did I miss any?

Not looking for a world beater, just a good flying stunter of one of my favorite full size planes. Any thoughts, preferences or recommendations?  Thanks.

[Tony Drago]

One of the best If not the best. Walter Umlands kit of the Jim Van Loo's Chipmunk.
 Check out the vendors corner for contact info.

[john e. holliday]

If it is a Umland Chipmunk kit, it has to be the best.

[kenneth cook]

           I own the plane on Walter's site. I can't say enough good about how this profile flies. The plane is powered with a Brodak.40 and now that the engine is broken in, it's the most enjoyable profile to fly that I own. I'm not the builder of this model as it was given to me. From the first flight, my son and I both just were amazed at it's responsiveness and it's ability to just come out of a maneuver and lock on. Ken

[dennis lipsett]

I have one of Walts first run of about 12 kits. Foam wings that were cut by John Duncan. Needless to say the kit is immaculate and the wood and plans are outstanding. I'm never going to get around to building it as I'm old and my back and neck have ruined me. If Walt was making that kit today it would probably be in the 400 dollar range.
I'd let my kit go if someone is really hot to get one. No it wont cost you $400 to own.

Dennis

[Steve_Pollock]

Bruce, there are also Chipmunk (Pentland - from Australia) and a Chipmonk (Tindal - from the UK) but I don't know how they compare with the CL-3 or CL-19 planes from Sig.

[Bruce Shipp]

I have one of Walts first run of about 12 kits. Foam wings that were cut by John Duncan. Needless to say the kit is immaculate and the wood and plans are outstanding. I'm never going to get around to building it as I'm old and my back and neck have ruined me. If Walt was making that kit today it would probably be in the 400 dollar range.
I'd let my kit go if someone is really hot to get one. No it wont cost you $400 to own.

Dennis

Dennis, is this a full fuse kit or profile?

Thanks,

Bruce

[Dan McEntee]

  Hi Bruce;
   The Umland kit is a full fuselage model and the first ones I believe were foam wing models because that is what the originals were. Mike Stott and his Dad had already started to sell foam wing cores about that time. I think Walter communicated with Jim Van Loo on the plans and such and had the mistakes from the magazine plans corrected. The original SIG kit is a nice airplane and so is the later Super Chipmunk if care is taken during construction and powered well. I have the Joe Dill version also and it gets high marks from the people out west that have built and flown that one. I say, get all three!!! Plan on the same power plant in each one, and you would really only need one engine and just swap it around. Lots of guys flew them with St.46's in them and the obvious choice today would be a LA.46. A guy here in St. Louis squeezed a ST. G-51 into one of his once. I had a SIG Super chip version that got me through Advanced and plan on another some day soon. As Walt Mooney always said, "So many airplanes and so little time!"   Give my best to your Mom and Dad.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dave_Trible]

Tom Dixon has a Dill version that flies very nice.  As a teen I built both the original Sig kit (ruined due to a leaking fuel tank and non-sealed tank compartment) and one of the first Super Chipmunk kits.  It had a McCoy .40 and was just a dream to fly.  It was given to a youngster to fly for a couple years.  I recently scored a new kit of it and will maybe get it put together this winter,  likely an Enya .45 up front for Nostalgia 30.  If it makes any difference to you only the first two are qualified for Classic events. The 'Super' came out just a little late for that.

Dave

[Joe Gilbert]

Don Hutchinson’s profile is a good choice also. His warbirds all fly well and a great choice for a Profile/Warbird contest plane.

Joe Gilbert

[Bruce Shipp]

Dennis, please check your private messages. 

Thanks,

Bruce

[Bruce Shipp]

Thank you to all who responded.  Your posts prompted some more research and I’ve learned a lot about the Chipmunk family. 

Dan, do you by chance have easy access to the March 68 MAN construction article for the Van Loo Chippy?  I’d love a copy if it’s easy.  If not, no worries. 

Thanks.

Bruce

[pmackenzie]

You can download the article and the full size plans on Outerzone

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=7550

[Bruce Shipp]

Thanks, I downloaded it.

Bruce

[Shorts,David]

No one has mentioned this yet, but if you go with the current Sig chipmunk, I know David Fitzgerald has a short list of changes to make somewhere that make it much stiffer and better flying. If I do a chipmunk it, and call me sacreligious, but it's gonna be R/C and powered by a big gas engine. Chipmunks just need to do snap rolls IMHO.

David

[Dan McEntee]

    Was anyone heads up enough t down load the page that Mike Gretz had up on the history of the VanLoo/SIG Chipmunk? I found a link t it in an old thread but it doesn't work anymore, so I imagine the site expired. i was up still not too many years ago. Only one page I believe but I'm not smart enough to know how to save it. Here is the old link;

         http://members.zumatel.net/mdgretz/Chipmunk.htm

     If anyone has it can it be emailed?

   Thanks in advance,
   Dan McEntee

[Bruce Shipp]

Thanks to everyone for the Chipmunk info.  I’ve enjoyed the Chippy history lesson and seeing some nice models.

I pulled he trigger on two kits:  the foam winged Buildright kit from Dennis and an original Van Loo Sig kit from eBay.  Walters kit will be done similar to Mike Haverly’s chipmunk pictured in the Flying lines web sight.

I like how he replicated the cowl for the Lycoming powered super Chipmunks. The paint will be similar to Mikes,  copying the late Jim “Fangs” Maroney’s airplane.  Jim was a friend and was lost much too soon.

Mine will be electric too, like Mikes.

We’re moving in January so no building until the move is complete.

The first pic is Mike’s model. He second is Maroney’s full scale Chippy.

Thanks again.

Bruce

[Steve_Pollock]

Bruce, if you opt for the CL-19 Chimunk, the mods suggested by Dave Fitzgerald are included below.

[Bruce Shipp]

Thanks, Steve.  Yes, I have seen those mods.  A Sig Super Chip is on the not quite so short list.  It will definitely be built with those changes.

[Bruce Shipp]

My Van Loo kit arrived this week.  Pretty nice.  It appears to never have been un boxed.  If it has they were much better at putting the stuff back in the box than I ever was.  I got a big kick out of the price written in magic marker on the box:  $12.95. Uh...I paid a bit more than that...

Can anyone tell me what years this Van Loo kit was produced?  Thanks.

[Mike Haverly]

FWIW my Chipmunk started out as a Sig kit.  The only parts I used from the kit were the ribs and the canopy.  The kit wood could have been used to make a shipping pallet.  The fuselage was lengthened two inches and the stab and elevator are 24% of the wing area, 60/40 ratio stab and elevator.  Paint is all Randolph dope.  Weight is 54 oz with TP 4S 2800 batteries.  It flies well but it small and not competitive with full boogie PA models. 

I used Dave Fitzgerald's notes for reference.

[Tony Drago]

Bruce. Ust that kit for templates only. As Ty stated it is some what rare.
Walter Umland kits Jim Van Loo's Chipmunk design. Well worth it.

[Bruce Shipp]

Bruce. Ust that kit for templates only. As Ty stated it is some what rare.
Walter Umland kits Jim Van Loo's Chipmunk design. Well worth it.

Yep!  I picked up a Walter Umland kit from Dennis Lippset.  It arrives today 

[Bruce Shipp]

FWIW my Chipmunk started out as a Sig kit.  The only parts I used from the kit were the ribs and the canopy.  The kit wood could have been used to make a shipping pallet.  The fuselage was lengthened two inches and the stab and elevator are 24% of the wing area, 60/40 ratio stab and elevator.  Paint is all Randolph dope.  Weight is 54 oz with TP 4S 2800 batteries.  It flies well but it small and not competitive with full boogie PA models. 

I used Dave Fitzgerald's notes for reference.

Mike, I have found several pictures of yours.  I’ll be in touch for info on how you built the front end, especially the modern O-540 cowling and electric conversion.

A coincidence that we have picked the same full size airplane to replicate.  Jim Maroney’s airplane was awesome.

Thanks,

Bruce

[Tony Drago]

Yep!  I picked up a Walter Umland kit from Dennis Lippset.  It arrives today 

You will be happy.

[Bruce Shipp]

I’m in Chipmunk Heaven. This is the foam wing version and will get the Fitzgerald mods and be electric.

Mike Haverly, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Mike Haverly]

I don't know that I can be of much help, building is pretty much straight forward except for the fuselage.  I can tell you that there is only a little bit of 1/64 plywood in the nose, no maple and the battery loads from the top.  The hatch is held on by a single 2-56 screw.  The cowl removes from the front and is held on by 4, 2-56 screws accessed through the air scoops and from inside the top hatch.  The motor is an E-flite Power 25 rear mounted, Castle Creations Edge Lite 50.  The whole top of the fuselage is molded 3/32, sides are 3/32 with no formers.  PM me if I can help.

[Mike Haverly]

I’m in Chipmunk Heaven. This is the foam wing version and will get the Fitzgerald mods and be electric.

Mike Haverly, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

Pete Peterson built the prototype of this kit.  It has a Brodak 40 in it and flies extremely well.  I'm not sure I would make any changes to it.

[Bruce Shipp]

Mike, thanks for that info.  I do plan on making this one electric. Having built yours with the lander aft fuselage and slightly larger tail, how did the CG come out? Do you think it would have a problem being too nose heavy with the stock fuselage and an e power setup?

I’ll be in touch via PM with other questions on your build. Thanks,
Bruce

[Mike Haverly]

I had to add nose weight to get it to fly the way I wanted.  It wasn't tail  heavy by print standards, but electric powered airplanes seem to have different trim requirements. That's a whole different subject.

[Bruce Shipp]

Thanks, Mike.  It sounds like the stock configuration will lend itself well to electric conversion. 

[Mike Haverly]

You'd better weigh the electric components and compare to the original power plant.  I think the plans show a Fox .35, about six oz plus the tank.  Electric weighs much more than that.  That's a decision you'll have to make.  Best to lengthen the fuselage than add tail weight.

[Paul Wescott]

I’d like to try this one:

[phil c]

My Van Loo kit arrived this week.  Pretty nice.  It appears to never have been un boxed.  If it has they were much better at putting the stuff back in the box than I ever was.  I got a big kick out of the price written in magic marker on the box:  $12.95. Uh...I paid a bit more than that...

Can anyone tell me what years this Van Loo kit was produced?  Thanks.

The  Van Loo design was the best Chipmunk at the time.  If Walter had a foam wing version with the same outlines it would be a bit easier to build.
Sig's foam wing version was smaller and heavier.