Astrolux S43 - New model (On Sale)

shame about the design, it doesnt really gets me interested.

I’m a bit disappointed by the Astrolux S43.

I was hoping for an S42 with TA driver as I’ve always liked the look of it and the idea of an 18350 Nichia quad with built-in charging. The S43 has the features I want but I find it incredibly ugly.

Sorry for being a bit off topic, but, is there a way to ask Banggood to make the MCPCB of the LEDs available for separate purchase? I know, people can buy the head (for at least the S41 series), but nah, I would really need that.

I believe Lexel has a driver for the S42. But I don’t know if that is still an option or available. Plus the driver in the S42 is not the easiest mod.

Yeah. Other than the design, I really like this light, especially since it now uses NarsilM.

An S42 driver swap is beyond my skill and patience level, but I wonder whether the S43 driver and charging circuit would fit the S42. I suppose Texas_Ace would know.

Of course, even if the S43 driver does fit the S42 I doubt Banggood would be interested in selling the driver separatel.

Well, it is a glass breaker. Which brings back memories.

Maybe some are too young to remember “Breaking Glass” and Hazel O’Connor.

Here is a reminder, the best love song ever, and best sax solo. Poor man, he cut off his right hand fingers with a circular saw shortly afterwards.

But Clare Hirst absolutely nails it, and Hazel is still going strong.

The original :- YouTube

And nowadays: Hazel O'Connor - Will You (best Sax solo ever by Clare Hirst!) - Jazz Cafe, London - December 2011 - YouTube

Or accoustic: - YouTube

I’ve just spilt my tea. Oh silly me. What will be, will be. It makes me shiver, and quiver. Or should I just politely say goodnight ?

The extra mass is the head should allow for longer turbo run times before stepping down. I thought BLF folks preferred performance over looks.

It is always a fine line between form and function.

Ok this thread was just brought to my attention. A few of my thoughts.

I 100% agree on the looks, it is funny since the prototype they sent me looks much better. I actually preferred it to the S42, except the bezel, for some reason they made it thicker so it blocks more of the optic.

The driver itself will work in the S42 if you felt so inclined. I was not even aware they were making it a new light until they went live with it on banggood.

The glass breaker is optional, it simply screws into the tripod mount, pointless yes but also meaningless.

The driver is a basic FET+1 design running narsilM of course, so finally it should be usable.

The driver and charge circuit are completely separate now, making modding easier.

Overall the prototype is a pretty nice light, what the S42 should of been to start with.

Why they made the production version so much uglier I have no idea.

Don’t know how to say it any other way than this ;
“If your new flashlight looks like it should have come with a condom, it may be an issue carrying it in public without getting mocked”

Anyone remember the Edsel, Yeah it looked a lot like another body part to many people and didn’t last very long in the market even though they were said to be a well made car.
Subaru apparently didn’t do their history lessons and produced an similar grill/front end orifice and it too was mocked. (Subaru B9 Tribeca)

Just sayin’

I will wait for the rainbow pvd version

it isn’t a glass breaker - it’s a ‘pocket ripper’

nice

(not really, why?)

I don’t understand why they push the “adamant” glass breaker/self protection thing and then have “NO” knurling at all on the body.
Contradiction in form and function.

Can we expect the same beam pattern as the earlier S42?

Luckily the glass breaker simply unscrews (well it comes separately in the box, so you can simply not install it at all).

The body I have zero explanations for, it is ugly and I told them exactly that as soon as I saw it. The body on the prototype had some nice finger groves that looked pretty good actually.

Yes, it uses the same optic so it will have the same beam. The only change to the beam is a slightly thicker bezel for some reason so thus a little lower OTF lumens. Although on the plus side the tint shift on the XP-G3 seems to be a little reduced as well.

Wait, do you think the bezel is swappable?

That would be really nice so I could swap in the S42’s bezel in and get a better light.

Yes, they appear to be swappable. Although holding them next to each other the difference is less then I first thought, maybe 0.5mm difference.

I seem to of forgotten how much the S42 bezel covered of the optic as I no longer have one (I used my S41 to swap the bezel)

Weird. Just out of curiosity, do you happen to have a photo of the prototype we could see?

Assuming that wouldn’t violate any rights or agreements, of course - I’m not sure what the rules would be for something like that.

Yeah, I am not sure on the rules for that as well in this case. The light is released to the public now and they didn’t tell me to not share it but it also looks a lot different.

Everything is the same except the battery tube. Instead of a blank tube the prototype was a smooth finish with 3 gentle finger indention’s cut on 3 sides. Gave it a classy yet simple look.