The Schneider Gruanu Baby was an early glider designed and initially manufactured in Germany. It could be home made and hundreds were built that way before World War 2. Eventually around 6,000 were built.

The Grunau Baby was designed by Edmund Schneider and first built in the town of Grunau in Germany.

It was designed to be used for both training and cross country soaring. It’s simple but rugged design meant it could be constructed from plans.

The Baby was introduced in 1931 and was an instant success. The redesigned Baby IIb was introduced in 1932 and remained very popular through the 1930s.

It could be made by individual craftsmen and hundreds were made that way during this period.

During World War II 4,104 were made in factories in Germany and the occupied countries and after the war hundreds more were made in countries such as Czechoslovakia, Spain, Netherlands, Britain and Australia.

Perhaps as many as 6,000 were eventually made.

This model represents a Grunau Baby IIb flying in East Germany in 1954.

Kovozavody Prostejov 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in March 2023.