FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

I don’t think there’s any hard factors delineating a “BLF” group buy from any others here other than that some BLF members are involved in the process to some extent. You’re making a fair point but most of the logisitics seem to be handled by Neal and Lumintop without much active engagement with BLF (not a bad thing, just how it seems to be going).

I was fairly sure I saw TK or someone else involved say something about how the interest list wasn’t a strict order of who would get their shot at ordering first but I can’t find it so I might just be dumb.

The emitter poll ended up with 5000K XPL HI and 4000K LH351D coming out on top but whether they can get a decent bin of 351Ds is up in the air AFAIK.

I think you are correct RobertB. That being based on past Group Buys with huge interest lists such as the FW3A now has. :+1:
Of course we are all just guessing. Time will tell the true story…. :wink:

You can’t logically do too strict a order. When Lumintop has a batch of 500 lights ready they can’t wait for person #1 to buy, then person #2, etc. Even sending out PM’s to the first 100 doesn’t make sense. Considering that there will be quite a few of the early sign ups who’ve left or are no longer interested, you can’t even do 500. You typically will see PM’s sent out in batches to the first 700 or so people. Then it might take most of them a week or more to purchase. So maybe if the next batch of 500 lights roll off the line they will sent out another big batch of PM’s to the next 700 or so people. This is a lot of work, but it’s semi fair as far as the order of the list. They might even send out the batch of PM’s in smaller groups of 100 each. They can do those in order as well.

I’m not sure who will work with the SB, the forum owner, to do these mass PM’s. Maybe Toykeeper? I don’t think Neal can do it.

They might try to keep things simpler and mail everyone at once.

Oh yeah, since it’s probably going to be just the xpl-hi made first and we didn’t differentiate emitters early on, the best thing might be to send everyone a PM at once. Those that want that version can order. Those that want 4000K, can wait until the other version is ready. Or maybe they will do a preorder for the 4000K.

The point of my post above is just to show that it’s a complicated situation and TK might not know the best way to do it or might not have all the details worked out yet.

We know it will likely be bought through Neal’s Gadgets and most likely a PM with the order details will be sent out. You don’t have to create an account at Neal’s Gadgets, but you do want to have a PayPal account with your current address listed. If you’ve moved anytime recently, make sure your info is still correct.

I’m sure they will tell us the plan once they get the details figured out.

We are still a bit away from doing orders. Hopefully there will be some real production version samples sent out first.

There seems to be a large number of people highly interested in seeing this light start shipping. If a straightforward task like emailing notifications can’t be automated easily, and looks like it could end up be an undue burden on anyone, I’m sure there would be volunteers who could help share the workload. I potentially would, depending how busy I happen to be at the time.

I am interested in 2. I commented a while back but never saw my name hit the list.

please put me down for a 4th light.

I see you at 1900 and 1901.

Precedence on a list is unlikely to make much difference, it has never worked in the past, except on one very rare occasion (my numbered boxed set, of BLF x6 ss and x5 cu. Even then the serial number was not as ordered.)

I expect it will be first-come first served once the PMs are sent.

Unless Neal’s Gadgets (if he is to be the distributor) has put in place a robust tried and tested system in the meanwhile. Previous experience suggests that is unlikely. Frankly, rationing these is counter-productive, once they are available those who want should buy. Or make a decision to delay and wait for any lingering teething problems to be exposed, and hopefully corrected before ordering.

Previous GBs involved PMing unique codes to each individual, in the quantities for which an interest had been expressed, that were recognised by Banggood or Gearbest and which applied the BLF discount straightforwardly.

Once done it was first-come, first served, up to a defined quantity limit. Fair.

That system has worked well in the past, using big distributors with well-oiled procedures in place…

I got into my new time machine ..a 2025 model and went into the future 30 years. It seems there is an issue with the emitters coming out too rosy .After the first asteroid hit the earth people no longer have a rosy disposition. Just be patient Neils grandson is busily working on the lights .

/\“Neil’s grandson”, I love it!! :smiley: :smiley::+1:

If you have not seen this POLL CONCERNING GLUED LIGHTS , please check it out & vote…

It is an attempt to get one light manufacturer to listen concerning using glue to seal their lights. Maybe other light companies might listen also. . :+1:

Take a few seconds & vote……

‘NO GLUE’ is the goal. Hopefully, this poll will help achieve that goal.

Did someone “Glue” this thread shut? I mean 4 days and no BM&C?

Nickel plated? I love nickel for some reason. Was helping with a FXR build years ago and we had some parts nickel plated. Fell in love with it.

Crazy, huh? Crickets.

Add me to the list for 1, please.

I am interested in 1. Please add me to the list :smiley:

i hope we get some answer if sourcing the LH351D will be possible or what other options they will decide to go for instead.

Hi, sorry for the lack of updates. I’ve been debating whether to dispute some recent accusations, or whether it’s not worth the trouble. And I think I’m leaning toward not. Bait is usually best left on the hook.


About the FW3A though…

I don’t have concrete answers, but if I understand correctly, orders go through Neal’s shop. I don’t think his shop has a function for individual purchase codes, so those probably won’t be a thing. And since it doesn’t look like every emitter option will be available right away, that makes things complicated. The list doesn’t track emitter preference.

There’s also the complication of having two lists — one on BLF and one on TLF.

I’m just guessing, but it’ll probably end up going public all at once, without regard for the order of names on the list. I’ve kept the list in strict chronological order regardless, to make sure it’s an option… but the rest of the infrastructure for that doesn’t seem to be in place. So it’ll probably end up being a race at first, unless Neal comes up with a way to avoid that.

I hope so too!

All I’ve heard lately is that Lumintop is waiting for optics to arrive. The ETA on that is the end of the month.

interested in LH351D one

Do you have any predictions when fw3a will be ready? thank you