I created a BLF account just to show my interest and for being put in the list.
I am also very interested in the USB charging mod. Does anyone know of any similar mod for the regular BLF Q8? I’m not skilled to do it myself, or solder/unsolder anything, but would happily throw my money if a USB-capable tube was available. Alternatively, what would be even better, would be a way to charge batteries without removing them from the holder. Not sure if this exist or is doable. I have a MF04 and a BLF Q8, these are my first multiple-18650 flashlights, and easily recharging just by unscrewing them to get the holders and connecting them be very convenient.
Barry sent me a couple of the first images of the BLF LT1 lantern design their engineers did based from the drawings & info i sent them. It looks really good & very close to the design perimeters i sent them.
Are there multiple flats spots on the body ? Is it just for a place to splash a name ? I was hoping like the new Q8 they would just do a 100% knurling and be a bit more discrete with make and model # .
I want one in beige ,camo, plaid ,pink and paisley
Agreed Toykeeper, looks like it’s taller than it needs to be, looks like the there’s a lot of dead space in this design. I’ll buy one either way but more compact is better.
I agree about the flats. Just having a solid body with no flats does wonders for making things look better, and More high end. I love no branding at all, but on the tailcap works while keeping a cleaner look.
its is possible to shorten it a bit, ( original design was to make sure there was enough space for the driver circuits, plis a stand-alonw USB & charging circuit original, but Lexel has designed a great driver with all the components on the main driver board, (Lexel is needed to comment on that) as long as there is space above for the wiring, on-off button, and USB ports.
I thought about having knurling added to the mid-section, ( but either leave space there for the name & model in the mid section, or have the name & model logo on the side of the head.
if costs allow and Barry with is engineers can do it, i think other color options would be nice for this project. ( standard black anodizing, with white/silver , possibly olive green, & other colors.
Just a thought, the tailcap of the Q8 is it’s weakest point IMO. A thin fragile shell that would not withstand any kind of abuse, drop, etc. and very finely threaded.
I have long been waiting for something much chunkier to be made, spreading out a little wider for better stability ||(and grip, when handholding, the Q8 is a slippery devil), also with provision for attaching a lanyard.
This is very important for a lantern that will be expected to tail-stand. The Q8 tail cap is completely unsuitable IMO, It is also flat on the bottom, so only stands on a completely flat surface.
Something like the tail cap of e.g. the Astrolux MF01, also providing for attachment of a lanyard if desired. I have one of these, and it is far superior to the Q8 design.
Edit: with three, not four, raised parts, for stability.
The Q8 tube was left to Thorfire to design, the team just focussed on the head, which is a decent design, (Edit: in version 2) but the tube, and particularly the tail cap, could have been done much better. Sofirn have corrected the tube in their new Q8 by removing the flats that never registered properly for those with OCD, but still haven’t addressed the very poor tailcap.
Some way to attach a string to the top and suspend it is also required for a lantern IMO.