Woo-Hoo! This might be really moving soon! :partying_face:
That, is cool. One of the most realistic ones I’ve seen. Only possible addition I could see would be a circle of smaller LED’s around the main one to help simulate flame deflection.
I’m interested in one.
The possibility of an Andúril or Narsil based has got me pretty excited about this lantern.
The candle mode in a lantern seems really awesome to me. Definitely looking forward to this!
I like that mode idea too, give the effect of a candle or classic kerosene oil lantern for those effects that we can’t get from any other LED lantern available.
There’s so many aspects of this I’m stoked about. I’ve wanted a good lantern for years now and I feel like this is it, finally going to have a great lantern. The candle mode is honestly just a big bonus to me.
I should receive the Thorfire provided Q8 tomorrow in the mail, and plan to work on that for the new prototype base this weekend to get this project rolling.
UPDATES,April,20,2018 -:The Q8 sample/mule arrived for the updated prototype. I have already torn down the head, and have the driver out, and doing measurements of where to cut the head down to incorporate the new lantern shade/lens and center support post. First thing is i need some guidance on what to do with the Q8 driver to reduce its maximum output in all the high modes down to 1.5 amps possibly? I could leave it as s, but with the high output current in the lantern running continuous it would overheat the LEDs & lantern head very, very quickly and likely cook the LEDs or melt the lens attached to the solid aluminum head. I plan on the new prototype to run two down-firing LEDs on each side of the center support post/bolt instead of the single LED as in the 1st gen prototype. Also will use a frosted main shade/lens with no inner diffuser instead of the clear lens & inner diffuser as the 1st prototype does to reduce manufacturing costs. The lantern head I have already blue-printed and in thw works on the Q8 head design, right now i need to driver experienced team members ToyKeeper, DEL, and even possibly the original Q8 team to help directing me to modding the driver to reduce its peak current to the LEDs. As of now I will keep the current Narsil program in place for the first prototype lantern, using the #7 mode set. But we will look to Toykeeper to possibly add the extra good modes including the candle & sunset modes to the firmware later. More updates soon as i work on the structure of the Q8 head for the lantern 
SECOND UPDATE:-After looking over & measuring the original Q8 copper 4-emitter star, I may build the V2 prototype lantern using that very same start & its emitters, as it already has a center hole, & can be actuall fitted to the same heat-sink head of the V1 prototype of the lantern, (further reducing costs? but unsure if it will be cheaper for the production model to use that Q8 PCB, or use two separate more generic 16mm copper single-LED stars.
So, 4 LEDs total? Could you just re-use the stock Q8 PCB but upside down? You could use the center hole in the PCB for the mounting post, and run the wires parallel or through that same post?
I just updated the above post as you probably replied on that possibility. 
There are already lights that use a USB “OTG” adapter to do charge/powerbank from a single port. Granted you need this dongle but it’s still 1 port.
This is awesome! I’m so glad to see the project getting some updates and action. Thank you all for your work, especially DBSAR, I really want this one to happen!
While arranging the Q8 for you, I asked Miranda to make sure Barry saw this thread. She said she would, and sounded enthusiastic about the project.
I’d suggest replacing the FET with a stack of 7135s, maybe start at four. Easiest way is to piggyback a generic 7135 driver onto the board, lifting the control pin from the piggyback board MCU and connecting it instead to the gate drive of the Q8 FET. I thought DEL had designed this already, he’s the one to look too for advice.
That sounds like a plan. The Q8 MCPCB shouldn’t cost much, actually it should be rather inexpensive if Thorfire are to be the manufacturer. A new MCPCB supplier was brought on by the Q8 team, who I think have performed (not sure if they used the recommended supplier or did it otherwise, but these big technical parts are not expensive in volume) , possibly speak to djozz who I think set this part up.
Interested in one!
Looking forward to hearing from Barry on this
That’s what i’m planning on trying in this case.
Using a construction like the Fenix CL20R with horizontal mounted LEDs would make the lens unneccessary.
Is it a good idea to use only two LEDs?
And what about additional red LED?
Simple to use would it be if you can choose the programming at order, to set only the needed modes and levels as well as the mode order and memory function. Since optional bluetooth modules for later upgrades seem to be not in the concept.
And there are Powerbanks which offers two Ports - one USB-C (dual) and one USB A-Type (output). So with USB-C everything is possible.
Thanks to DBSAR and everyone else helping the project progress!
Can I get put on the list for another 2 lanterns (total of 3).
Two LEDs are plenty for the lantern’s target brightness level. Really, even one LED is enough. It only needs to make 500 lm.
A red LED is unlikely because there probably won’t be an extra pin available to control it. This could change though, depending on details.
The current firmware lets the user set the brightness of the lowest and highest levels, and the total number of levels. They are evenly-spaced on a visually-linear scale, automatically. From off, the user has direct access to the lowest level, the highest level, and the memorized level. And quick access to a variety of other modes too, by clicking three or more times.