I decided a
while back to start building the Valom Ouragan. Wasn't sure what markings
to paint her in and while I was working on the cockpit my dad sat beside
me and asked me if i was building a Toofani, as it is known in the IAF.
I told him I was and showed him the cover with the 29 Sqn Scorpions
markings. He then sat back in his chair and said, Ah! are you gonna build
her in a sand camoflauge? That got my eyebrows raised. I had never seen or
heard of a camoflauged Toofani in the Indian Air Force let alone a Sandy
camoflauged. (Later I have been shown a bunch of interesting uncatalogued
camos of IAF Toofanis) I proceeded to ask him more about it and he
told me when he was re-equipping No47 Squadron "Archers" with
MiG21 Type-77s he saw their previous mounts "The Toofanis" in
varied camoflauges and one that got his interest was the sandy brown one.
I set out researching and came to naught. So I went back to dad and we
talked shades and hues of brown for days till I came with a colour I
liked. That ended horribly and I had to re do the paint job but this time
Dad was satisfied that it was the right colour that he saw.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Now came
the tough part. The Squadron insignia was an Archer with his Bow
stretched. Again lack of patience for a custom decal set in and I decided to
brush hand paint it as it would have been on the real aircraft. The pics are the
result of my work of passion mixed with a dash of nostalgia and helping of
history.
I hope you enjoy my
rendition of Dassaults first foray into Indian Air Force Aircraft with their
MD450 Ouragan, Renamed "The Toofani " In IAF Service.
Jai Hind
Navin Bala
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