JAS Jottings

The Quarterly Magazine of Japanese Aviation SIG of IPMS-UK
Vol. 7, No. 3, August 2001

Reviewed by Jim Schubert

This magazine is another one-man-band enthusiast's operation with the bandleader and most of the players being represented by Yorkshireman Peter Starkings, Esquire.  This 30-page magazine is a very good companion to the quarterly Asahi journal of the IPMS-USA Japanese Information SIG.  If you belong to one, you really ought to belong to both.  "SIG", by the way, stands for "Special Interest Group".

The featured airplane in this issue is the Mitsubishi Ki.67, Army Type 4, Heavy Bomber - Hiryu; McCoy code named "Peggy".  Peter's in depth article takes us through the background of the type, its design, development, deployment and service.  There appear to have been about 15 different versions of the Ki.67 initiated and least eight versions actually built for both the JAAF and the JNAF.  Reviews of the LS (later Arii) 1/72nd scale kits are included.  These kits were originally issued in 1966 and, to date, are the only ones offered to modelers.

Other features in this issue include:  Mitsubishi MU-2 Turboprop; Tojos Over Burma; Allied (McCoy) Code Names for JAAF Airplanes; Kit Reviews; Decal reviews; Book Reviews; Web Sites; Changes in membership and four Tojo profiles in full color.

Membership for one year is US$13.  Contact Peter Starkings for detailed information.  IPMS membership is recommended but is not required.