Hi all:
Since we do not have any hobby shops in this area, I must resort to mail order for my glow plugs. Where is good source of glow plugs?
Have Thunderbolt plugs become a thing of the past?
Tia,
Frank McCune
While you can probably get what you need from Randy at Aero, here's some more info:
Thunderbolt still makes and sells plugs, but the "R/C Long idle bar" and the "4-Stroke plug" are discontinued per their management and website.
Fox is out of the modeling business so whether you liked them or not, no more Fox plugs.
Merlin makes a full range of plugs but no "Idle bar" (if you're convinced you need it) we have found the Merlin #2003, #2003HD, and #2005 to work well in most engines used for stunt/sport including 2-4 break where you might need a hotter plug
Sig still sells the #003 idle bar R/C long plug and many think/thought it is/was the gold standard of R/C longs. They are also one of the only places that still sell Castor and Klotz and decent fuel for U/C.
Mecoa sells the full line of K&B plugs including the idle bar. Others may be correct about O&R making them but if so, they only make the body as I have watched the elements being installed at the Mecoa plant. Same spec and quality as the original K&B's.
Sonic Tronics still offer the #300 idle bar
McCoys are still avaiable but seems they discontinued the four stroke (gold stem), and the MC-55 hot??
While a lot of plugs are/were made by O&R (Ohlson) they are made to the ordered spec and are not all the same. The dia. & depth of the hole, diameter and length of the wire, addition of idle bar, and Finish, all effect the heat range of the plug.