Mach 2 1/72 C-123 Provider

Pauly,

Roden makes a C-123B in 1/72 scale, reviewed on Finescale website here:

http://www.finescale.com/product-info/kit-reviews/2014/07/roden-fairchild-c-123b-provider

I have had the Mach 2 kit in my stash but, being aware of it's "rep", have avoided building it. I picked up the Roden kit, but haven't built it yet, so can't render a first hand opinion.

AW

 

I found The Mach 2 1/72 C-123 Provider model in a friends garage among the pile of models that he didn't want or would never get to. He sold it to me for 5.00 which is about what it is worth.

There are no pins to help with line up of parts, and the parts themselves just do not line up very well anyway, so pins wouldn't help at all, and many of the parts are not shaped correctly to each other.. also there is lots and lots of flash, and in order to line the parts up for gluing, you will find yourself doing a ton of sanding, and dry fitting and more sanding etc etc.

Now since this was an old model found in someones garage, I cannot speak as to what a brand new in the sealed box model would be like, but this one that I got had very little instruction, and and the directions that were there really really stunk. I basically had to build this model with very little help from the kit instructions.

Yes I have built it, and with the landing gear up as half the gear struts were missing, and after lots of sanding, cutting, scaping blah blah, it came out looking just OK. It is a cool looking airplane with a interesting history, but hopefully there is a better kit out by now (2017) if this is a model you want to add to your collection.

The C-123 kit is a horrendous affair. Lots of flash, ill-fitting parts, contours that just aren't right, locater pins that don't align. I wound up giving mine away to a neighbor's kid to just glue together. He didn't like it any more than I did and junked it.

Quincy,

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll tell my friend about it. Might be a difficult build (being a vac and all) but it couldnt possibly be worse than the Mach kit. And at around half the price it could be worth a try. Thanks.

allan

Maybe not. Several years ago Squadron produced a line of 1/72 vacuform kits, amongst which was the C-123. Every now and then one of the kits will show up on Evilbay and about 6 months ago someone had a C-123 on there. From the pictures and info given, the kit was complete, with the fuselage halves removed from the sheet. Think it went for 25 or 30 bucks - Its a long shot, I know, but if someone really wants a 123 it would probably be a better than the Mach I kit or scratch building the darn thing.

Hey there, Salbando.

A friend of mine whos a retired PAF general (and who flew C-123s) bought a couple of those kits. Quite expensive and that doesnt include the money he spent on putty! Swanny's right, the brand makes less than stellar models. Detail on the 123 isnt worth the price and the fit is so much worse. Unfortunately, its the only game in town.

Thanks for the imput guys. I'll have to think long and hard on this one.

hi salbando,
you will have to go get your modeling skills sharpend for any of their kits, they are very basic, parts fit were they touch, but if you want a 123, then you will have to do it, as for the price, they come from France and are short run.
john
Air Warfare Forum

I've wondered that myself. I bought the Do.26 for $50.00 and it was made out of a cheesy green plastic (very, very soft) with lots of flash, orange peel up the butt and lousy fitting parts. The clear parts were anything but clear, most parts required recarving, have it about 80% done for two years now. I have heard of a few of their kits being worthwhile but have not seen any of those personally.

Thanks Swanny,
Your opinion goes a long way with me. My problem is that it's the only C-123 kit out there that I know of and I'm trying to do a model of each aircraft that my Unit has ever flown (they flew C-123K's in the 50's).
So if the kit stinks, why is it so darn expensive???

My experience with Mach 2 has been less than stellar. If fact you would have to pay me (a lot) to take on another Mach 2 kit.