RAAF Photo Recon CA-18 Mustang Conversion 1:48 Red Roo Models

[Julien]

RAAF PR CA-18 Mustang MK 21/22

Red Roo Models - 1/48

By 1944 the Australian government had made the decision to replace its old P-40's and Boomerangs with the excellent North American P-51 Mustang. Initially 100 P-51D's were shipped in kit form to be assembled by The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation of Australia. These were to be know as CA-17 Mustangs, in the end 80 were completed with 20 kept for spares.

These were then followed by 100 P-51K's shipped directly from the US.

In 1946 CAC was afforded a contract to build 170 P-51D's, these were to be designated CA-18 Mustangs.

At this time the RAAF also had a requirement for a fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft, capable of operating alongside the fighter aircraft equipping their front line Squadrons.

It was not a great leap of faith to take the decision to modify the CAC Mustangs already in production for the PR role.

To this end the first 14 CA-18 Mk21 Mustangs and the last 14 CA-18 Mk23 Mustangs wer modified in this way. All of these aircraft being fitted with the Packard Merlin V-1650-7 (Merlin 68)as used on the MK21 Mustang. The first 14 aircraft modified were serial numbers A68-81 to A6894 and the last were A68-187 to A68-200.

The conversion itself was fairly simple. Flat optical glass was mounted in a curved frame on the port side of the rear fuselage, and a vertical camera port that extended beyond the lower surface of the rear fuselage was fitted. This was protected by a solenoid driven shutter style door.

In the cockpit a small electrical panel to control the cameras and door was fitted to the port side of the cockpit, fairly low down. To aid camera alignment black sighting crosses were marked on the upper surface of the port wing, and the port side of the canopy.

The Conversion Kit

The kit supplied by Red Roo to make this conversion is fairly simple. It contains the following parts;

1 x oblique camera port.

1 x vertical camera port.

4 x de Havilland Australia "Cuffless Paddle" propeller blades

1 x decal sheet

1 x instruction sheet

1 x CAC Mustang locally made seat (See review of this HERE)

Instructions

I am very impressed by the standard of the instructions from Red Roo. For such a small conversion you have a 21 page A5 booklet. This contains black & white drawings, b&W photos of real aircraft. Colour photos of the conversion "in progress", along with full colour decal placement guides.

Full conversion instructions are given for both Tamyia and Hasegawa kits.

Decals

Decals are provided for 4 aircraft.

1. A68-84 This was the third aircraft delivered to the RAAF In 1947 & Wears wartime Markings.

2. A68-94 As photographed at Canberra ACT in May 1950 Post war roundels.

3. A68-187 As photographed following disposal from the RAAF to Adastra Airways at Bankstown. Post war roundels.

4. A68-200 The final Photo Mustang delivered to the RAAF. As photographed at CAC Fishermans Bend, Victoria in June 1951. Post War roundels.

Conclusion

A must for any modeller wanting to make an accurate RAAF PR CA-18 Mustang.

Review sample courtesy of