CAC Mustang ex RAAF A68-199 Repainting Progresses

Progress is ongoing on the refinishing of the CAC Mustang CA-18 PR.22 1524 Ex RAAF A68-199 paint scheme. Warbirds Online recently visited the Pay’s Air Service paint shop at Scone NSW to view the work being undertaken by Benni Walters on this aircraft since we last visited in August 2019. Further to our earlier report on the repainting of CAC Mustang CA-18 PR.22 1524 Ex RAAF A68-199 in its original color scheme we are following up today on progress being made in this meticulous process. The Mustang in now fully stripped down of all its previous paint schemes and is in bare metal. There are a few interesting points of notice now the Mustang is “naked”.

This aircraft is a CAC Mustang CA-18 PR.22 the PR standing for Photo Reconnaissance and evidence of the camera installations in the rear fuselage is now readily apparent. The PR 22 variant of the CAC mustang had two F or K24 model reconnaissance cameras fitted one oblique and one ventral.

Now that the paint has been removed and the surface cleaned the covering panel that was placed over the oblique camera port has been removed and the camera port “window” has been revealed with its reinforced surround. There is no transparency in the hole as the camera port glass stood proud of the fuselage surface by nearly 25mm and was removed to make way for the winch and operator when the Mustang was converted for civil use as a target towing aircraft as detailed in our earlier article. It has yet to be decided if the camera port will be restored or returned to its faired over status.

Another interesting discovery on the Mustang is that during her time at Bankstown it was fitted with various panels from another CA-18 PR.22, A68-187 which was used as a spares source for the target towing Mustangs.  Now that the panels have been removed for painting it is obvious that some of the panels on A68-199 are from other mustangs including the upper engine cowlings that have A68-187 still stenciled on the under surface. It is intended to preserve this evidence of swapped panels as part of the aircrafts history.

Another vestige of 199’s civil history is faint evidence of the replacement panel where the winch was fitted to the aircraft at Bankstown. The opportunity is being taken during the repainting of the aircraft to repair or replace worn components on the skin of the Mustang in order to have the finished aircraft as pristine as possible. This is a very high quality refinish of this Mustang and the highest standard of work is being carried out by Benni and the team at Pay’s.

Warbirds Online will continue to monitor the work being done to refinish this fantastic Australian built fighter.  We are grateful to Ross Pay, Benni Walters and the rest of the team at Scone NSW for allowing us to visit and report on this aircraft.

© John Parker 2019