SIG Chipmunk

[Dick Tyndall]

    Not knowing much about this subject I need to ask how many different versions of the Chipmunk did SIG make and also how many different boxes did SIG put them in? Is one version preferred than another?

                      Dick Tyndall

[Ty Marcucci]

Two versions.  First one in a short box, no kit number and blue and white checkers.  Second one, longer box, kit C17 I think ( as stated it was CL-3), and red and  yellow checkers.  I had both kits, but sold one to a kool kat in St Louis. Both are identical, only the box size and labels were different.  Then they came out with Super Chipmunk, different cat.

[Dick Tyndall]

 Thanks Ty. That's what I wanted to know. I found one with the long white box. This one says it's " CL-3 ".


               Dick Tyndall

[Dan McEntee]

Two versions.  First one in a short box, no kit number and blue checkers.  Second one, longer box, kit C17 I think, and red and  yellow checkers.  I had both kits, but sold one to a kool kat in St Louis. Both are identical, only the box size and labels were different.  Then they came out with Super Chipmunk, different cat.

    I think you are pretty close Ty! I think I know the kat you sold the short box kit to!! It had the blue and white checkers. The kit number for the next run was CL-3 I do believe though, when Glenn added it permanently to the kit line and it was the standard , long kit boax with red and white checkers. Those were both the Jim Van Loo design and are classic legal. The Super Chipmunk superseded the original in 1973 with just Mike Stott's name as the designer, and was kit #Cl-19.

    Here is my source for the information;   https://wanderings-ds.jimdofree.com/

     Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee


         Edit to Add:  The first kit was in the short box with no kit number because Glenn didn't think it would sell very well, and just wanted to use older left over boxes and use up scrap wood for it. When it became a best seller for SIG, that is when Glenn told Mike Stott to come up with a profile model that would fly just like it to sell as a practice plane, and this the SIG Banshee came into being.

[Dick Tyndall]

  Great information on the kits guys! Now I know what I'm looking at. THANKS!

                     Dick Tyndall

[Dan McEntee]

  Great information on the kits guys! Now I know what I'm looking at. THANKS!

                     Dick Tyndall

  Mike Gretz used to have a couple of web pages with the history of almost all the SIG kits, since he was there for almost all of them. I haven't been able to find it in recent years, and don't know if I down loaded it to any of my old computers or not. It was on a an old provider called zumatel or something like that. It would be interesting and a great help of anyone else out that happens to have them and they can be posted here.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[wwwarbird]

 The above info must all be about the Jim Van Loo version and not the Super Chipmunk?

[M Spencer]

Here's a pile of Chipmunkyness . https://stunthanger.com/smf/open-forum/sig-super-chipmunk/50/

[Dan McEntee]

The above info must all be about the Jim Van Loo version and not the Super Chipmunk?

   That is correct, Wayne. the first two "SIG" Chipmunks were the Ban Loo Chipmunk. The design was presented in M.A.N. about that time but the mag plans must have been redrawn by a blind monkey and have some errors. After the two first issues of the Chipmunk, it was redesigned by Mike Stott to what we all recognize now as the Super Chipmunk, modeled after Skip Volk's modified air show mount.
    type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[wwwarbird]

 I've got a really nice SIG Van Loo one NIB. My idea for it has always been an all yellow RCAF version. Maybe someday...

[Robert Whitley]

I need to get it together and finish the rebuild on my Chipmunk from the seventies.
It’s built, covered and in primer. Just needs the hard part (painting) to be done.
Using it’s original Fox .40 Stunt engine and all dope finish.
This time around it will be painted in RCAF colours from an actual Chipmunk that I had the pleasure to fly.
The new tail has been shaped like an actual Chipmunk and I will also mould a canopy more resembling the real thing.

[Phil Hawkins]

There are several significant differences between the original, no number, short box version and the second offering with the long box numbered CL-3. Both are Van Loo Chipmunk's (also the yellow label CL-3)
The original no number short box has two piece fuselage sides for both sides. Sig could not fit the one piece sides in the short box. Next; the ribs are very different from all proceeding versions. They resemble Nobler profiles (Jim Van Loo is on record as stating they are not Nobler copies, but are virtually the same) also the landing gear bolts to plywood ribs with U (or J) bolts. Again, all proceeding kits had blocks that are mounted inside the wing across a couple ribs (I think on the bottom spar too). The short box cowl, and wheel pants are slightly smaller. The short box is by far the rare one to find. It should be noted the plans are different too, reflecting the rib, & landing gear, differences. BTY Ty, you bought the short box kit from me many moons ago! Since then, I recently aquired the long box CL-3!
Anyone wanting to build a CL-3 Van Loo Chipmunk, but can't find a kit. The CL-19 Super Chipmunk is almost identical until you compare the cowl. Build the Super, carve the cowl!
Edit: The MAN plans (1968?) Show the first version with the different ribs, landing gear, cowl, and wheel pants.
If my recollection of the Van Loo Chip, history is correct, Jim's original contest winner was a foam wing.

[Ty Marcucci]

HI Phil.. So I got it from you. Small world, bet you wish you still had it!  I believe the Van Loo original used a Stott foam wing, which had just come out a little earlier, I got one for my birthday in 72 or 73, used it on a green label Nobler years later. Bad move, too heavy..   I have since learned about weighing EVERYTHING......

[Phil Hawkins]

HI Phil.. So I got it from you. Small world, bet you wish you still had it!  I believe the Van Loo original used a Stott foam wing, which had just come out a little earlier, I got one for my birthday in 72 or 73, used it on a green label Nobler years later. Bad move, too heavy..   I have since learned about weighing EVERYTHING......

Right! Yes, I do wish I had held on to it. Somewhere in the hoard around here I should have a copy of the MAN plans.  But I have oh, 5 or 6, various kits already started anyway!