Whoa! What is the timeframe for those releases after the FW3A?
Sometime before the next manned mission to Mars.
…
… probably.
LOL…Good answer!
They are also doing some special runs for Massdrop in the AA tool and AAA tool configurations.
Yeah, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge in the last year and 4 months since this project started
A single emitter for the next version would be great. I’d still prefer 18650 though. Nonetheless, it’s very premature. I’m still looking forward to this one. I think it will be worth the wait.
But the 2000 is not your typical production run of a new product, which would normally be speculative and require marketing effort.
In this case the 2000 is guaranteed sales, the product is already known to a large audience, and there is guaranteed ongoing discussion of the product to a wide audience independant of marketing efforts. Sounds to me like these factors make this one of the least risky ways to take a stab at a new product. Unless it has major flaws which are not solved soon after launch it is practically certain it will be a success and sales will continue well beyond the 2000.
I don’t know what the ultimate over/under is on BLF special editions, but there’s typically some falloff between initial hands raised and committed purchases in these sorts of ventures. I imagine that they’ll all eventually sell even if some of the original pledges walk away, but I Wouldn’t take that 2000 figure as guaranteed sales.
I’ll agree that a project like this is probably free market research for any manufacturer that takes on the project and indicative demand outside of the BLF market.
It’s futile trying to figure out the motivations of the Chinese flashlight companies. I don’t even try. It’s less stressful that way.
If I recall correctly, people were keeping track of follow-through rate on the Q8 project. The main issue was that the manufacturer couldn’t keep up with demand, not that people didn’t buy what they pledged for. I think the follow-through rate was something like 95% before the purchases opened up for general audiences, and then it has continued going up since then.
Other projects have mostly gone that way too. So it’s probably pretty safe for Lumintop to make 2000 units, especially if they do 1000 each of two flavors.
The BLF A6 though. Such a turkey, whatever happened to that one? 
I would love to see a 21700 version too. At that diameter, might as well go with a quad like the D4 and call it FW4A.
Perhaps it is possible to make such leds without MCU. I think it could be done similar to the illuminated tail-switch on the BLF X6 e.g.
That means hard connected to the battery.
Is this worth thinking about?
Sure, it’s no different that hard wiring leds into a side switch. The problem with doing it on the FW3A is the much smaller mcpcb. You’ve got the same four emitters, but a much smaller board to put them on and you still need room for the optics to fit over the top, so space will be tight.
If Lumintop want sales they should choose two LEDs. In that case I must up my number like many others.
Banggood has 330 reviews for the Q8 and only one is 4 stars. There is little to complain about it. Over 3900 sold in less than a year.
Blf A6 black 17657
A6 silver 2547
Astrolux S1 Short 939
Astrolux S1 4988
Total: 26 131
I could be wrong, but I think I rember:
Lexcel did design an aux LED-board for the normal D4 but could also be the D4S. I think the D4 quad has the same diameter of the optik than the triple FW3A.
Based on a lighten tail switch.
Please search for it
Is it too late to ask another company to make it?
That would be like going to Mercedes and asking: Look we have here this nice two prototypes from BMW. Can you produce it too?
Bad analogy.
Was there a signed contract? Are all BLF designed products made exclusively by Lumintop? Look at the BLF Edition Master List
It is more like lotus or mclaren sourcing different engines for different needs.
Admittedly I have no idea what agreement was made behind the scene. If Lumintop already started manufacturing or buying parts for the flashlight then there is no need to consider switching. I don’t know if the second prototype was made by lumintop or by Fritz15.
If Lumintop hasn’t started the process then I don’t see anything wrong with switching companies. Who knows, most likely they are out sourcing it to other small companies. I don’t know how much manufacturing Lumintop does in house.
edit: First prototype was made on a lathe by Fritz15. Okay, second prototype was made by Lumintop.
The host was still designed by Fritz15, Toykeeper handled the firmware, and Tom E did the driver. Lumintop did not design the flashlight.