Unfortunately, you won't find much for armor in 1/48.  Your best bet is to build the vehicles you want in 1/35 for the armor and you can get a police car/truck to go with them in 1/32 (or 1/35 using a Meng F250).  As stated above, almost any military vehicle has been used by US police depts; mainly M113s, MRAPS, V100s, HMMWVs and a few others.

First, welcome to the forums! Glad to have you with us.

The problem with doing 'special' vehicles of any type for fire and police departments is that they tend to be highly customized--sometimes 'one-offs'--to fit the needs and desires of individual organizations. Even if you had chosen a better-represented scale to work with, a military configuration might not be too close to a 'real' public service version.

(Of course, if you're 'pushing the envelope' as the tank suggests, then anything is allowable. )

Customized vehicles tend to have modular plate armor and shapes...so it wouldn't be too hard to modify any vehicle to a likely-looking configuration with simple plastic sheet.

Just curious...is there a prototype vehicle (or vehicles) that inspired your idea?

(BTW, HUMVEES are in widedpread use as police vehicles. All shapes and sizes.)

Thank you everyone for the advice / help so far! I'm planning another modern diorama and I'll definitely consider 1/35. I'm new to the miniature models (I tend to stick to fantasy minis). The only issue is that, while I was checking out the Tamiya catalog in 1/48 and 1/35, I noticed that there seems to be more modern vehicles in 1/48 (HUMVEE included) than 1/35 (also the M1A1 abrams tank (I belive the only modern US tamiya tank in 1/35) is ~$95 while the tamiya M1A2 tank in 1/48 is ~$35. What would you guys recommend for a modern diorama? I'm going to stick to 1/48 for the police diorama but for the next modern diorama, I'm planning on including more modern armor and adding some modern infantry. 

I have nothing constraining me to Tamiya but, as I said, I'm new to the miniature armor community so tamiya is the only brand I know of. Any other brands you all recommend would be great.

As for Gregbale's reply: That's really interesting, I'm in the Southern California area so perhaps I can find pictures of LAPD armored police vehicles and try to modify them to match LAPD vehicles.

I'm willing to take some liberties with how realistic the vehicles are. Mainly I'm looking for a more military look. I didn't know that HUMVEEs were owned by Police Departments but that's really helpful, I'll definitely include one now. I'm thinking, in addition to the M1A2 abrams and the HUMVEE, I like the look of the JGSDF LAV so I'll probably include that:

Tamiya makes a couple of hardtop HMMWVs in 1/48 scale that are used by civilian police forces. I also think there are some 1/48 scale Staghound armored cars that you might be able to use.

Also check out Airfix's 1/48 scale armor vehicles. These are ones recently used in Afghanistan and could fit the bill. Wouldn't be the US surplus stuff an American police department might have, but would be similar.

Long ago, a friend of mine made a similar diorama. He had a hard top HMMWV with a Mk.19 mounted in the top hatch, painted it as a black & white, used some of the DML/Dragon SWAT figure sets, when those first came out, and built up a building front for a warrant entry type diorama. It looked great and was displayed at a local shop. 

The Florida Highway Patrol had acquired a V-150 and put it in their colors while a city police dept. not far from herfe had a similar Cadillac/Gage commando car in green but also had a outer armored shell set up about 4 inches from the primary hull.  I think they lost it when obama started the recall of all military vehicles from local police departments.  When his orders were reversed by President Trump, I think they got an even better vehicle as a replacement.  I saw one hrsding towards their city on my way home one day.

Neat idea.  Even our little police force was gifted a military vehicle by General Dynamics.  Not sure why.  We are a rather small town.  Perhaps the little old ladies at the bingo hall were getting out of hand.  The truck is a South African ( I think ) light armour transport with land mine protection.  Exactly how it came to small town Canada, I'm not sure.  I guess my point is that you could make just about anything you like fit the bill.  You are telling a story, just have a good back story to go with it!

Have Fun!

rg 31 nyala by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

Oh, yes, the Japanese LAV is a really cool looking vehicle.  I've got one I'm planning to paint up as a patrol car on Monster Island (because 1/35 dinosaurs are a thing!).

LonCray

Oh, yes, the Japanese LAV is a really cool looking vehicle.  I've got one I'm planning to paint up as a patrol car on Monster Island (because 1/35 dinosaurs are a thing!).

 

ROTFL!!! Please, please, please, post that when you're done!!!!! 

Caveman: That is one sharp looking vehicle in the department colours and logo. 

Caveman

Neat idea.  Even our little police force was gifted a military vehicle by General Dynamics.  Not sure why.  We are a rather small town.  Perhaps the little old ladies at the bingo hall were getting out of hand.  The truck is a South African ( I think ) light armour transport with land mine protection.  Exactly how it came to small town Canada, I'm not sure.  I guess my point is that you could make just about anything you like fit the bill.  You are telling a story, just have a good back story to go with it!

Have Fun!

rg 31 nyala by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

 

 

 

The Nyala was used by the CF in Afghanistan and was also used for training domestically.  That's probably where it came from.  I know the RCMP had a couple of modified Grizzly AVGP's for a couple of years before they wore out.

Cool.  That explains where they came from.  Make a little more sense now.  Still looks funny as hell parked at the local Timmy's!

LonCray

Oh, yes, the Japanese LAV is a really cool looking vehicle.  I've got one I'm planning to paint up as a patrol car on Monster Island (because 1/35 dinosaurs are a thing!).

 

That reminds me of the Revell Mercedes M-class SUV from the movie, Jurassic Park: The Lost World (aka JP2). I have the car kit with the dinosaur proof guards around the windows. Not that it did any good in the movie.

LonCray

Oh, yes, the Japanese LAV is a really cool looking vehicle.  I've got one I'm planning to paint up as a patrol car on Monster Island (because 1/35 dinosaurs are a thing!).

 

i have a modern M102 (?) 105mm that is going to have a Velociraptor crew also thinking of doing the JGSDF 4x4 in a HATARI type scheme hunting dinosaurs. something like a meeting engagement with a triceratops. what is the color scheme for Monster Island?

i did a BRDM-2 in Syrian police markings for nats in 2013. crazy blue, gray, black, white dot scheme.