Italeri 4645 - 1:9 Vespa PX125 150 1978

Plastic model kit of the 1978 Vespa PX125 / PX150 scooter in 1:9 scale

Italeri 4645 is a model kit of the iconic Piaggio Vespa PX scooter in its 1978 form. The kit is produced from completely new moulds developed in 2026 and offers a high level of detail: a full engine and drivetrain, detailed suspension, removable side cowls revealing the powerplant and a lifting saddle.

A notable feature is the choice between working and fixed suspension - the modeller decides whether to have a functional model or one set solidly for display. Rubber tyres, additional rubber parts and a photo-etched fret complete the kit.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with body, engine and suspension parts
• Rubber tyres
• Additional rubber parts
• Photo-etched fret
• Decal sheet
• Colour instructions with painting profiles

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:9
• Catalogue number: 4645
• Manufacturer: Italeri
• Assembled model length: approx. 195 mm
• Moulds: completely new (2026)
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: Glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This kit requires assembly.

Building the model:

The large scale and detailed engine reward careful work - it is worth assembling and painting the powerplant as a separate sub-assembly before enclosing it in the body. Photo-etched parts are best attached with cyanoacrylate glue, after bending them over a hard edge or a photo-etch bender.

The Vespa PX came in a wide range of colours, from pastel beiges and blues to classic white and red. Airbrushing the body and finishing it with a gloss coat captures the character of the factory paintwork well. The engine and mechanical components gain definition from a wash brought into the recesses and a matt finish.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and fine sanding paper
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss coat for the bodywork
• Panel wash to bring out engine detail

About the vehicle - Piaggio Vespa PX:

The Vespa was the scooter that put post-war Italy on wheels. Piaggio designed it as a cheap, easy-to-use vehicle for the masses - with a self-supporting steel body shielding the rider from mud and rain, small-diameter wheels and the engine mounted to one side, beside the rear wheel.

The PX arrived in 1977 and quickly became the best-selling Vespa in history, with more than three million built. It was powered by a 125 or 150 cc two-stroke engine driving a four-speed gearbox controlled by a twist grip on the left handlebar. Its simple, robust construction allowed repairs in almost any conditions.

The Vespa PX became one of the cultural symbols of the 1970s and 1980s - inseparably linked with the mod subculture in Britain, and a fixture of Italian cinema and city streets. Production, with breaks and updates, continued for decades, making the PX one of the longest-produced two-wheelers ever built.

Original vehicle specifications (Piaggio Vespa PX125 / PX150):

• Engine: single-cylinder two-stroke, 125 or 150 cc
• Gearbox: four-speed, twist-grip operated
• Body: self-supporting steel monocoque
• Market debut: 1977
• Production: more than 3 million units
• Manufacturer: Piaggio

About the manufacturer - Italeri:

Italeri is an Italian model company based in Calderara di Reno near Bologna, founded in the early 1960s by Giuliano Malservisi and Gian Pietro Parmeggiani. Its first kit was a 1:72 Fiat G.55. Over time the company acquired the moulds of Supermodel, Protar and ESCI, greatly expanding its catalogue. Today Italeri offers aircraft, helicopters, military vehicles, ships, trucks, cars and motorcycles, with a particularly strong position in large-scale 1:9, 1:12 and 1:24 vehicles. The company designs and manufactures in Italy.