Mach 2's C-123 Provider in 1/72 Scale

I searched the forum and found a thread from 2004 that did not have good things to say about this kit. Unfortunately, the Mach 2 kit is the only game in town.

I’m building a series of Medal of Honor aircraft that the Air Force Special Operations community flew and the C-123K is one of them. This kit even has the correct decals for the C-123K flown by Major Joe Jackson, 311 Special Operations Squadron, in May 1968 when he earned The Medal evacuating US forces from Kham Duc, South Vietnam. So, I’m stuck trying to make a peacock out of this turkey.

I don’t have a copy of the Squadron “In Action” book on the C-123 so I’d be grateful for some suggested corrections – even though I realize the list will be lengthy.

JRutman Products sells a resin update set (cockpit, wheel wells, engines, props, metal landing gear) for this kit. Any comments on that?

All i can say about Jerry is that his probucts are vary nice.

Hi Ed,

My father flew the Provider in Vietnam, and I have both the book and the kit (started it years ago but haven’t finished it). I may have the Rutman update set but will have to look later. email me direct and I’d be happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability.

Mark

I don’t have any first hand experience with that kit, but I did see this at a show back in June:


Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to talk to the modeler and find out all of what he did or exactly how far departed this finished model is from what comes in the box.

If nothing else, it proves that there is a silk purse hiding in that particular Mach 2 sow’s ear.

I’ve heard that Mach 2 kits can sorely test even the most experienced of modelers, so I hope these pics give you some inspiration to keep going if the model ever seems to be getting the better of you.