1:72 Handley Page P5 Hampden

Handley Page P5 Hampden 1:72 (Valom)

An injection-molded plastic kit of the twin-engine bomber Handley Page Hampden in 1:72 scale from the Czech manufacturer Valom, issued under the designation P5 with Swedish and Soviet markings. The short-run model combines injection-molded plastic parts with resin and photo-etched pieces and holds decals for two options.

The real subject

The Handley Page Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber with a strikingly narrow fuselage, which earned it the nickname Flying Suitcase, and with radial Bristol Pegasus engines. This release concentrates on markings outside British service — Swedish and Soviet, which the machines reached in the course of the Second World War.

Building and painting tips

With a short-run model, expect careful cleaning up and some adjusting of the fit of the parts. Finish the interior and the narrow fuselage before closing it. Wash the resin parts to remove the mold release agent, and glue the resin and photo-etched pieces with cyanoacrylate glue. An airbrush and a gloss varnish under the decals suit the period camouflage.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of British bombers in foreign service
• Anyone interested in the Swedish Air Force and the Soviet Air Force
• Modelers with experience of short-run models
• Builders putting together a collection of Hampden versions

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.