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Italeri 1/24 scale Volkswagen Golf “Polizei” plastic model car kit review

An older kit perfect for first-timers, VW enthusiasts, and collectors of police memorabilia
Kit:3666 // Scale:1/24 // Price:$39.95
Manufacturer:
Italeri (Sample courtesy of Model Rectifier Corp.)
Pros:
Good body proportions; fit and finish of parts; nice decals
Cons:
Tooling shows its age
Comments:
Injection-molded plastic (white, gray, clear); 4 vinyl tires; decals
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In 1974 Volkswagen introduced the Golf to the public, which was met with great enthusiasm. The little VW was a stout performer with a very attractive design and price point. This also made the car a viable option for law enforcement. With its water-cooled, front-wheel drive platform and strong but lightweight unibody construction, the VW Golf was ready to take on the rigorous duties the Police (POLIEZI) needed in everyday use.

Italeri’s 1/24 scale VW Golf Polizei plastic model car kit depicts a first-generation (1974- 1983) Golf in a German law enforcement green and white paint scheme. The kit is a repop of an ESCI model that dates to the late 1970s, with new parts introduced in the early 1980s. As such, you shouldn’t expect a modern kit, and the tooling does show its age.

With all that in mind, Italeri’s instructions are easy to follow and feature paint callouts for each part. Assembly begins with the small, eight-piece, four-cylinder engine and transmission, wheels, and tires. Nothing to report here — just clean up and go.

The chassis, suspension, exhaust, and fuel tank are all separate components. You can paint them first and attach them afterward. Simple. The wheels and tires fit on the four corners without difficulty.

The sparse interior is exactly what you’d expect for a German police vehicle: two bucket seats; a rear seat; a small center console with a stick shift, dash, and pedals. While assembling the interior, you’ll install the engine. No questions about where it goes because of the positive locators for a solidly mounted drivetrain.

The windows, door panels, inner fenders, and lower front valance all fit well, even with paint. The body mounted to the chassis so snugly that it almost needed no glue to stay in place. Body trim and accessories complete the build with front and rear bumpers, a grille, head and taillights, and the iconic blue beacon on the roof.

Italeri’s decals laid down beautifully over gloss paint, and I didn’t need a setting solution.

If you’re a collector of police memorabilia or a Volkswagen enthusiast, this kit will be right up your alley. Despite its age, I personally enjoyed this build and would recommend Italeri’s 1/24 scale VW Golf “Polizei” plastic model car kit to anyone with basic model-building experience. That’s right: It would make a great first-time glue kit! It fits together well and only requires you to mask for the two-tone paint scheme. Simple!
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