Roden 056 Fairchild C-123B Provider 1:72

In general, the construction of the XC-123 was so well executed that no major changes were required; although during testing, Fairchild engineers noted a small measure of instability. This problem was solved by increasing the area of the vertical tail and slightly changing its shape. Soon Fairchild received an order from the Air Force for 302 aircraft, designated the C-123B. The first production machine flew in September, 1954.

In the middle of 1955 the first aircraft entered service with the Air Force, receiving its official name of 'Provider'. Outside the Air Force, the Coast Guard became interested in the plane, and soon it received own version, the HC-123B. The Federal Aviation Administration, which controlled air transportation in remote regions of the country such as Alaska, also received the C-123, as the plane performed very well in extreme conditions.

The war in Vietnam was the setting for some of the most notorious pages in the history of the aircraft. As well as its primary task, the delivery of arms and soldiers, the C-123 was involved in the dispersal of Agent Orange defoliant over the jungle of Vietnam. Its deadly poison destroyed not only dense green vegetation, but as it transpired, people too. For this mission containers for toxic poison and external sprays were installed in ten C-123B's. This modification was designated the UC-123B. Others were less known, such as the C-123B planes with lighting systems in place of ramps and also the VIP planes used by military staff.