Churchill's 'Flying Suitcase'

HP.52 Hampden

1/48 ICM.

KIT INSTRUCTIONS

In June 1936, the prototype of a new bomber, developed in response to updated British Air Ministry requirements, took to the skies. The Royal Air Force required a twin-engine strike aircraft with an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing gear, and the capability to carry a relatively large bomb load over long distances. The aircraft was designed by a team led by Dr. Gustav Lachmann.

Following a series of trials, serial production of the new bomber began in the spring of 1938. The aircraft received the designation HP.52 and the name Hampden, in honor of John Hampden, a 17th-century defender of civil liberties. The first production aircraft entered operational service in the autumn of the same year, and by July 1940, Handley Page had produced 500 units.

Starting in February 1940, English Electric also joined production, manufacturing an additional 770 aircraft by March 1942.

The bomber featured a distinctive fuselage design — narrow and vertically deep — which earned it the nickname “Flying Suitcase.” Over time, the HP.52 Hampden underwent several external modifications, including redesigns of the nose section and cockpit glazing.

With the introduction of newer heavy bombers, the Hampden was gradually withdrawn from RAF Bomber Command service. However, it continued to operate with RAF Coastal Command, where it served effectively as a long-range torpedo bomber.

The shipment of your order is usually done in the same day of your order date if the order is done before 16:00 local time. Otherwise, we ship in the next working day.

We use the following shipping companies and costs:

For Greece:

• Box Now (1-3 working days) from 3.00 euro. Free for orders above 50.00 euro.
  
• Geniki Taxydromiki (1-2 working days) from 5.80 euro. Free for orders above 50.00 euro.
• ACS (1-2 working days) from 5.90 euro. Free for orders above 50.00 euro.
• For ACS and Geniki Taxydromiki, there is available option for pick up from the local courier representative.

For Cyprus:

• Box Now from 4.00 euro.
  
• ACS from 12.00 euro.

For EU countries:

• National Post, no tracking (7-20 days) from 8.00 euro.
  
• DHL Economy with tracking (5-10 days) from 15.90 euro.
• DHL Express with tracking (1-3 days) from 22.90 euro.

Rest of the world:

• National Post or DHL from 29.00 euro.
  

The buyer retains the right to return the purchased item 14 days from the shipping day only if the item is not damaged or altered.