H.P. P5 Hampden

Valom, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Valom's 1/72 scale Hampden B.Mk.I will be available online from Squadron.com

This is the review that I have performed on a kit produced by Valom and I can unequivocally state that this is the best model available of a Handley Page Hampden in any scale. 

I have built the 1/48 scale kit from Fonderie Miniatures which, in my opinion, was the best kit of the Hampden up to that point. 

I actually started to work on my old Airfix 1/72 scale kit earlier this year, removing all of the raised panel lines and re-scribing them more accurately and I had started a bit of scratch building before abandoning the project for a while.  Airfix produced this kit over 30 years ago when movable control surfaces, guns and retractable undercarriage were the vogue, but these gimmicks detracted from the accuracy and aesthetics of model kits and are these days are not included.  The final problem with this kit was the awfully moulded transparencies which are a poor fit and have many moulding defects that result in distortion and to which the only solution was to obtain after market vacuum formed replacements.

But now the savior has arrived as the poor Hampden has been sadly neglected for over 30 years in the model world.

On opening the box for the Valom Hampden, I made an instant decision, the Airfix kit would never be built, and the kit was consigned to the spares box forever.  The Valom kit is crisply moulded with absolutely no flash.  The panel lines are sharp and clean and look to be accurate by the Warpaint drawings that I have.  The kit contains approximately 78 injection moulded parts, 13 clear plastic parts, one small sheet of printed acetate sheet and 22 etched metal parts.

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The kit includes some excellent detail for the pilot’s area. Although parts are included for the nose, radio compartment and rear gunner areas some modelers may wish to add some extra detail here.  The sidewalls have good detail moulded in place but the bulkheads that are mainly missing.  This is my only criticism of the kit albeit a minor one and I dare say the after market companies will quickly produce these details.  The remainder of the detail for the engines and undercarriage is up there with some of the best in 1/72 scale. 

The Vickers guns provided for the gunners’ position are very intricate with their detail.  Etched metal parts are provided for the instrument panel, seat straps and antennas. 

The transparencies are well moulded but a little on the frosty side, nothing a quick polish or coat of Future polish will not cure, but most importantly they look as though they will fit snugly and are distortion free.

The decals are nicely printed and are in register with good colour saturation.  The carrier film looks to be quite thin but as I have no prior experience with Valom kit decals I cannot comment on their usability.

The Instruction sheet is concise and provides good assembly detail in a typical exploded view. 

One page contains 5 interior photographs of the Hampden details providing good reference detail.  The page containing the colour schemes has been printed in colour and the two schemes provided are;

1. Handley Page HP5 Hampden Sn 810 of the Swedish Air Force in 1942.  The aircraft is finished in Dark Green upper surfaces and Light Grey lower surfaces.

2. Handley Page Hampden BMk1 of 144 Sqn RAF as guest at 24MTAP VVS USSR at Vaenga Airport in Northern Russia in 1944.  The aircraft is finished in Dark Earth and Dark Green upper surfaces and Black lower surfaces.  The aircraft has Russian National Insignia painted on the lower wings and fuselage side.

Thanks to Valom for this review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2008 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
Page Created 9 November, 2008
Last updated 9 November, 2008

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