Review: Little Brass Beauty (18650 XP-G2 from FFL)

Don’t see any brass 18650 models-just this one for AA

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10007053/4217301-cree-xp-g2-r5-3-mode-900lm-led-flashlight

https://m.fasttech.com/products/1601/10007053/4690500-1-led-3-mode-650lm-led-flashlight

Is it.

Thanks Gunga :beer:

Oh, that’s great. I didn’t think they’d turn up again. I ordered one just to have a spare to mess around with - it claims to be “restocking” and the date has gotten pushed out a couple of times to 3/2 so far, but at least it’s still listed on my order.

+1, endless “restocking” - ETA was extended several times. Looks like it’s out of stock indeed.

It took 2 weeks before mine was shipped, from the date of order.

Arrived yesterday. A few differences compared to my original one;

* Tube is about 6mm longer.

* Double sided driver.

* XM-L2 emitter.

Not sure if it's an ATtiny chip, my clip wouldn't fit due to the CAP being in the way.

5 modes; L,M,H, SoS, Blink. Next mode memory. Have not tested to see if it's set up for config change via the stars.

Machining quality is on par with original, & threads match.

There's almost enough spare thread in the head to cut it down to 18350 size..... Hmmmm :)

Disappointing that it’s longer than the original. That’s too bad. Mine apparently shipped yesterday after ordering 2/25, not so bad I guess. Is the driver still held in place with a threaded retaining ring like the original, or is it soldered in now?

Still has the same pill & threaded retaining ring.

I can’t see the pictures. I’m curious about what is taller.

I can't see the pics either.

Sorry about pics for those that can’t see…. What’s the best method for sharing pics from Google pics??

The length difference is in the tube only. The head & tailcap are the same length.

You could save and then upload to imgur.com and post the links, don’t even need an account. Doesn’t look like the forum lets you upload directly.

So everything else is the same? Just a longer tube? I guess this allows it to fit button top cells. The spring on the tailcap is too small and weak though. Has it been beefed up?

Apart from the differences I mentioned earlier, it’s the same light.The switch & rear spring are the same.

Yes, it would accommodate a longer cell, but the tube diameter is the same, so a protected cell is still going to be a tight fit, just like the original light.

Edited post #69 with new pic links.

Thanks for the pics. It really does look like a near exact copy except for the length. I guess if you were good with a lathe you could trim the extra 6mm off the head and clean it up a bit to fit snugly again.

Interesting. Neither one of those is the original model. It’s too bad the original isn’t available any more. Here are my brass lights, including a new brass 18650 next to an original:

Here’s the original a bit earlier, before its patina wore off:

How weird, that’s three versions of the 18650 one now. TK, how old is your original style one? I got one from CNQG in Aug 2014 and it is identical to FmC’s “original”. I’m guessing yours is from even earlier. The only difference I see is the different pattern of un-knurled bands in the head. I do wish the new ones were the same length. Otherwise it seems fine, about the same build quality, etc. I replaced the driver and LED on the new one I just got and it’s perfectly fine, just longer than it needs to be.

It’s from 2013-09. I think it was the very first batch. The length is 97mm.

The insides are a lot more different than the outsides. Custom pill, custom MCPCB, only fits a 1-sided driver, the retaining ring screws around the outside of the pill, head opens up in the middle, etc. The newer models are much easier to mod but their tail switch isn’t as nice. The original doesn’t have flat sides; they’re slightly curved.

Lots of little differences, really, but both are good. And my new one is one-of-a-kind after Dale turned it into a triple and signed it. I have wight’s version of a Moonlight Special in it, triple 219B, and it’s running Crescendo.