Power Boat Racing in Thailand

Bangkok and the surrounding areas has a busy race schedule - almost every weekend there is a boat racing event within a hours drive, from 26cc to small electrics the competition is fierce and at international standard. The atmosphere is very friendly and everybody has time to speak to you and you are made to feel very welcome when you go to an event

There is a wide range of hulls at competitions - hand carved foam hulls, painted balsa right up to the new full carbon fiber composite hulls and a similar spread of motors and engines and the open races end with some surprising results - there really is no substitute for skill in driving (or flying) one of these boats in a race

As yet there are no noise restrictions on RC engines - it can be very load at a race meet but it does add to the fun - it has been said that if you have your fingers in your ears it stops you smoking, drinking beer and over eating.

RC Power Boat and Fast Electric Plans

On John-Tom.com there is a collection of free download plans for RC powerboats including monohulls, Tunnel Hull Hydroplanes, 3 Point Hydroplanes and Shovel Nosed Hydroplanes - more plans are added monthly. Download videos of RC Powerboat Racing in Thailand as well

Latest plans for free download are

72 inch Gas (petrol) Engined offshore DeepV racing boat

1982 Atlas Van Lines unlimited hydroplane

1920's V-bottom Gold Cup racer Baby Bootlegger

1969 Notre Dame Hydroplane

Please visit www.John-tom.com and follow the links for RC Power Boat for more info, photographs and videos of the RC powerboat scene in Thailand

Sharks in Thailand

After watching the Discovery Channel's Shark Week programs, the memories of scuba diving in Thailand came flooding back.



On the initial descent on my first dive at Phi Phi Island in Thailand I arrived on the sandy bottom near to a Leopard Shark - supposedly harmless but a shark non the less, "harmless" means that the species has not torn a chunk off anybody's leg - yet. My dive buddy was my long time friend from the UK who was working as an Instructor for a local Dive Shop so the stress of the encounter was reduced a little.



"If in doubt, do as I do" was one of the many pearls of wisdom given during the dive brief, so I did as he did and calmly swam to one side of the shark to avoid passing over the top of it (which may make it feel threatened and provoke an attack) We saw several Leopard Sharks; the one that I managed to photograph coming towards me actually gave me a bump on the shin and swam between my legs. A shark will bump into you as a means of investigation, shins are all bone, if it had bumped into my belly I am sure it would have whistled for it's mates for a feeding frenzy.





We had a great weeks diving, managing to photograph Sea Turtles, Manta Rays and Moray Eels to name a few. More details and photographs are on my Website - www.john-tom.com on the diving pages.

The conditions for diving are generally good at Phi Phi Island, some days have over 30m of visiblity under water, beaten only by the Similan Islands in my opinion. The amount of life in and around the coral is amazing and must be experienced to do it justice. Floating weightless in the amongst of a shoal of swirling fish is the nearest you will get to flying with the birds -if Dancing with Sharks is not your thing.



More details and Underwater Photographs at www.john-tom.com on the Diving in Thailand page

Steam Engines in Thailand

Ruston Proctor Portable Twin Cylinder Steam Engine circa 1905

Ruston, Proctor & Co Ltd, Engineers, Lincoln

I found this steam engine in Talard Park in Nakorn Sri Tammarat in Thailand. It is unrestored with a few patches to hold it together. The company name gives an indication of the date of manufacture, Ruston Proctor was given Limited liability in 1899 and the company changed partner names in 1918 so this engine was produced sometime between these dates.





This Twin Cylinder Portable Steam Engine was used in Nakorn Sri Thammarat, probably in the rice milling industry and was recently brought to the City Museum and placed in the "Old Machine Park" outside the front of the museum. I will add more details as I find them, if anybody can identify this engine please contact me.

The engine is located in Talard Park in Nakorn Sri Thammarat





More pics and info at my website on the Steam Engine Page

www.john-tom.com for more info on Steam Engines, model plans and fishing in Thailand

Jet Engine Plans

This page on www.john-tom.com contains downloadable plans and information on working miniature Jet Turbine Engines and Pulse Jets

The plans are of models that are generally regarded as obsolete in the rc jet world, but they are an ideal starter if you wish to make your own jet engine



The engine itself is far less complicated than a piston engine - as you can see from the stripped down parts there is not a lot inside. The rotating components consist of a Compressor wheel, Turbine wheel and main shaft with bearings - these are the only moving parts in the engine if you discount the control valves.



For more info and free plans go to www.john-tom.com and follow the links for Jet Engine Plans