SG-38, Hitlerjugend´s basic training glider

by Tigre del Aire

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Greetings from Colombia, this time I bring the GS-38, basic training glider used by the apprentice pilots in the air corps of the German Reich and by the cadets of the Luftwaffe and Hitlerjugend. 
First a little history: "Evolved from earlier German primary types such as Zogling and Grunau 9. Designed by order of the German government to provide standard training machine for Youth Flying Corps. Was sturdy, safe, and well-designed glider, somewhat heavier and with a slightly steeper glide angle than predecessors. Most notable features were hydraulic shock absorbers, parallel rudder movement, provisions for trim weights fore and aft, and screw jack atop A- frame which facilitated assembly and disassembly. Large horizontal stabilizer and small elevator surface, with limited up-travel, made accidental stalls almost impossible. Landings could be made, usually without damage, with stick all the way back during final glide. Bungee launches used most of the time in Germany. After student had learned to balance glider with ailerons while facing into wind, level ground "Rutsches"--short duration sling-shots with insufficient speed to become airborne--were made. Higher launch velocities followed to permit short flight; then student would advance to hillside launches and, finally, to winch tows and longer flights".(source http://www.aviation-history.com/garber/vg-bldg/schneider_SG38-1_f.html)
The first idea for my glider emerges from the film "Napola", which tells the story of a young boxer who was admitted to one of these schools and met another couple who will be very important in the development of his personality, taking some pictures Internet started to take measures and assessments with the figure of a pilot of a kit that is not used.

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With a plastic card cell I did the first cut and continued with comparing the actions of the pilot "unemployed", then I made the most significant templates with sprue stretched with heat, the first impression is of an aircraft at any time that was going to disarm, but it is not so!
When I did the assembly of the major pieces it began to take shape, the templates were added one at a time very carefully, the chair, a joystick and pedals to steer the glider were added later.
I found it very interesting that the draft did cut the card in doubles to make 2 models of the glider, and I found some pictures of this aircraft with British insignia, in conclusion, I have 2 gliders: a German and an English! But the German glider would be very lonely like the English, so carefully prepared a base for a small diorama, had in my box of some English unemployed mechanics, so I decided to become a cadet of the Hitlerjugend with a bit of sandpaper and paint.

The final result was very good, you can see  2 German cadets preparing the glider for flight training, by the way!  I touched paint a small banner near the plane in the colors of the Hitlerjugend to give it more realism.
I hope you like it, 

Greetings from Colombia, the land of Juan Valdez!
Saludos desde Colombia, la tierra de Juan Valdez!
COLOMBIA ES PASION!

Tigre del Aire

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Photos and text © by Tigre del Aire