1:32 VW Buggy Starter Kit (Revell Classics)

1:32 VW Buggy – a Starter Kit from the Revell Classics range

An injection-molded plastic kit of a beach buggy built on Volkswagen mechanicals, in 1:32 scale from the German manufacturer Revell. The package from the Revell Classics range is put together as a starter one: according to the manufacturer, basic shades of water-thinnable acrylic paints, a brush, cement for plastic, decals and an instruction sheet are added to the parts. The smaller scale means a lower part count and a quick build.

The real subject

Beach buggies were created from the 1960s by a simple recipe: the floorpan of the Volkswagen Type 1 was taken, shortened, and a lightened fiberglass body was seated on it. The air-cooled flat-four stayed at the rear above the driven axle, which gave the buggy good traction on sand and in rough country. The result was a light open vehicle without doors and often without a roof, with large wheels and short overhangs. From the beaches of California the fashion spread to the whole world and buggies became a symbol of carefree driving.

Building and painting tips

The body of a buggy is one large smooth surface, so sand the joints and the traces of the mold and spray a filler primer; bold saturated colors look best in thin layers. Because the vehicle is open, finish and paint the interior, the frame and the engine before you seat the body. Leave the tires matte and dust them lightly with a sand shade, so that it is clear what the vehicle is for. Set the chrome details apart only at the end.

Who the model is for

• Beginners who want the paints and the cement in one package
• Fans of Volkswagen mechanicals and of 1960s culture
• Modelers building in the smaller 1:32 scale
• As a gift for children and teenagers

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The basic paints, the brush and the cement are part of this package according to the manufacturer, other accessories are not, unless stated otherwise.