AModel's 1/144 scale
C-123 Provider

by Frank Cuden

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This is the 1/144 scale AModel C-123 kit.

I found this scheme in Squadron's In-Action book on the C-123 and wanting to do something different than the U.S. Coast Guard scheme decals given in the kit, I opted for these markings. The photo also showed the side fuselage entry door open, so I decided to cut out the door outline and I made a new door from plastic, along with the markings and hardware.

The kit provides a good starting point although the modeler is in for some sessions of refining for all the kit parts, given that the AModel offering is considered "short-run." Windshield wipers were cobbed up from short lengths of stretched sprue, with the "wipers" being "glued" in place on the windows with Future. Activation arms were simply white-glued in place after the wiper blades themselves had dried.

I chose the stub nose part to complete this kit as opposed to the more pointed nose piece also offered in the kit.The photo in the Squadron book showed the aircraft to have the stub-nose.

The orange bands were airbrushed, using Testor's enamel in the square bottles. A base coat of Floquil Old Silver provided a natural metal starting point and a couple of shades of Alclad II finished that portion of the paint job. I used Testor's White enamel for the crown and vertical tail.

All markings came from the spares box. I vacu-formed the landing light clear covers, used MV Lens "lights" for the landing lights and added opened cowl flaps, using thin sheet plastic, cut to size. The Waldron punch and die set made the circular cutouts in the cowl flaps to go around the exhaust pipes that I made from plastic tubing. I had to cut out the two dorsal fuselage windows and an old airliner door and window sheet provided the black outlines around them.

I added the tail rotating beacon and, using Tamiya "Clear" red and green, I painted the navigation lights on the wingtips. A clear coat followed.

I made the cowling fasteners from thin Mylar tape, outlining them with a soft lead pencil as well as going over all the indented kit panel lines at the same time.

All in all, a very nice kit once one gets past all the sanding and refinements.

As is often the case, the AModel kit is the only game in town so wanting to add a C-123B to my collection, that was the road I chose to travel. In 1/144th scale, the wingspan comes in at about 9 inches - and, it fits well in the showcase!

Thanks to AModel for providing the modeling world with a rather nice kit of the venerable old hauler.

Images and Text Copyright © 2009 by Frank Cuden
Page Created 17 July, 2009
Last Updated 17 July, 2009

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