Really? Looks like average joe random C8 with a Q5. Quite a bit better looking i admit, but still...
Much better than let say:?
Dont know as I dont have it, but looking at specs there will probably not be much difference, and its cheaper.
Somebody needs to do the math and figure out a reasonable price to lumen ratio..
it seems that there are lots of older lights that will sell cheap and will generally do 76.3% of what the newer more expensive lights will do . Some in very nicely built bodies that are easy to mod ..This is what I'm on the look out for . One reason i was sad to see edi-t lights go up at DX ..i thought they were right up my alley .After getting my hands on a 501b and some pathetic small suns I realiz what real garbage threads and el cheapo bodies there are out there ..I want budget ....Not bad **it...
I think the easiest thrower i know is a solorforce with an xpe r2
If you want big numbers than it's an xml
Just out of curiosity, the p60 dropins if i unscrew the reflector off the pill can it be inserted into a C2 or C8 body without modification or it is an entirely different pill? Wishfull thinking?
If i decide to get the manafont mrv... is it possible to mod it for better throw or it is best left as it is. Would a XM-L do that light justice. I understand the XM-L has a wider angle but is it enough to compensate with brute force output?
Another option would be changing the driver and the led for an R2 slightly overdriven at 1,1-1,2A...
I looked at 802 style flashlights:
http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=5634
Apparently is glued.
Any idea which is the cheapest available body to mod to a dedicated thrower?
Hi Budgeteer!
I own two hs-802 from DX and they both are not glued. They are very easy to mod and with very deep smooth reflectow that gives pencil thin beam. If you could mod that with XLM it will throw like crazy. In stock form it throws superfine up to 200m or so... For 25$ it's a steal.
Link:
Wow, thanks for the info.
Now if i can get the body cheaper i snag one if not ill probably get the whole flashlight.
The mrv is tempting too and 18usd or so.
the 802 should have a deeper reflector.
I`ve got the SkyRay 1JC8 .Throws like crazy useful up to 200m . It has an xre q5 drawing 1,6 Amps at the Tail outperforms in throw everything i have . Lights up to a distance from 400m (Google Earth measured). I think a good xre overdriven and a perfect smooth reflector will do the trick.
I have some doubts on the light but looks fine nonetheless. Many report that is highly overdriven or the driver just plain sux.
The MRV can be modded easely with a 14 mm led, but its not nessesary. Hotspot at 5 meters
are only 20 cm. Measured throw last night to a confirmed 300 meters. Could go further but I
could not find a longer distance in my domestic neighborhood.
Just the ticket! Manafont MRV Lunapower?
Whats the current draw on your sample? I might just overdrive it if it is not stock 1A to led.
Yes. 0.6 amps at the tail.
That good at at throwing by being heavily underdriven?
Ordered one! The driver will be modded if 0.6A is present on my sample too.
Can you tell me the sizes for the emitter star and driver circuit?
Thanks!
Probably due to my cheap meter or the battery.
Using my Trio power supply at 3.8 volt it draws 1.2 amps.
But read my post #24. Its a hell of a thrower no matter what the meter reads.
Led is 14 mm and driver is 17 mm
How about this for some modding fun:
Long 5cm wide, deep smooth reflector... should be a winner or em i missing something?
Upon reasearching a bit it should be a solarforce skyline clone. If it is an exact copy then the driver swap would be a headache since it seems it is press fit into the pill like assembly.
Anyone tried?
Certainly the Skyline could do with more output - and that's with a Q5 or R2 in it. This isn't the same as it'll take 2 18650s which the Skyline won't at it is 6V maximum.
It is probably cheaper to press in the driver capsule than to thread it in.. And none of the pictures show the back of the module with the LED in it. It might be easy, or it might be next to impossible to mod, but for the price it is probably worth a try.
Old4570 was going to mod his Skyline, but I assume from not having heard about it that he's not yet done so.
An emitter swap on its own might be worthwhile but if it has the strange dimmer in the tailcap like the Solarforce does (Which is unlikely. I believe that was the reason for the 6V limit), that would have to go too.
If the driver swap can be done it looks like a real winner to me.
Thanks Nautic good idea ,measured my Skyray 1JC8 Hot Spot at 5 m is also around 20cm , If you want a cheap single mode light, take the SkyRay otherwise take the MRV ,modding of SkyRay isn`t that easy . Btw the driver is OK spill is good hot spot is brighter than p60 with smo reflector and sb driver.I've read xre can be over driven up to 2 Amps ,good heat sinking required. If i do my extrapolation correct it is around 385 Lumen with r2 at 1.8 amps at the emitter. Once upon a time i will give it a try. 
Im probably gonna grab the fake solarfarce skyline and cry or celebrate later. It seems that heatsinking capabilities would be plenty even for a r2 @1,4A.
For the price i can't ask for a better reflector. I wonder how i can insert the new driver in it since it is pressed (probably).
Solarforce skylines aren't that expensive these days At 33$ I considered them..There are just too many other lights calling out to me and not enough peso's.