It was produced by several builders, including Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (DFS).

The primary structure of the glider is of wood, with the wings, tail surfaces and inverted "V" kingpost all finished in doped aircraft fabric covering.

The basic configuration was similar to earlier gliders such as the Stamer Lippisch Zögling and the Grunau IX, but the SG 38 was an entirely new design.

Improvements included enlarged tail surfaces for better stability, a separate skid mounted on shock-absorbing springs, and an updated seat for the pilot.

It was commonly flown by bungee launch on the slopes of the Wasserkuppe[2] and the hills of Saarmund.