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

It just happens to be finishing up at the end of the school year?
This has obviously been someone’s Masters thesis or some study.
Well maybe.

That button though? Outrageous! It may as well have a big “caution! Hot light” and Armtek logo on the side!! Didn’t they keep up with this thread?
Looks like a giant turd now. Might as well be brown.
Still in for 2.
And thanks to all of the patient members who acted as go-betweens on this.

I will just spin myself a new button in the lathe if the bunny is there. Brass, copper, stainless, aluminum, whatever I want. And maybe I’ll play with some CRX style trit slots finally. Maybe I can spin a handfull of each material and send them out to folks.

so what is this driver fit issue?

any last minute backup driver design needed?

Nice :+1:

TK was sent a proto with the driver well too small to accommodate the driver but now “it is fit” :slight_smile: :+1:

Proto4’s driver cavity wasn’t cut out wide enough, so the driver rested on top of that area instead of inside.

It should be like this:

But proto4 was like this:

I hear it’s fixed now… I think. But it’s hard to say much for sure, because the response about this issue has been literally just three words: “it is fit”

I mean, functionally, it’s still going to be the same driver and triple optic in the same small size with a rear e switch. The emitters were always vague; I certainly wouldn’t rather to use the original options. If you are leaving because of the aesthetic appearance, leave, that’s up to you and nobody has to validate you. Don’t get stuck in the door.

But personally since the anodization and tailcap logo are only skin deep, and won’t impact the actual performance, it’s hard to call it a significant change or even some sort of unexpected statement. They are the ones making the light; that’s been the dynamic this whole time. It’s just an annoyance, which doesn’t actually make it worse than any other options I can think of to buy instead.

Remember that nobody here on BLF has invested money in the project (AFAIK), nor is Lumintop under any obligation to stay strictly to the original design - CERTAINLY not when there is potential risk involved in doing so.

…say, like not having any branding at all on your newest and very anticipated product.

Maybe I’m more of the function > form type though. ¯\

Tally-ho, I do understand your point. Everyone has a different limit of what they will accept, and a different tipping point. We will all vote with our wallets, one way or the other.

Hmmm… “Looks like a giant turd now. Might as well be brown.”

I get your drift bansuri and to think… one little bunny wabbit almost instantly caused all this uproar.

Well….maybe “brown” anno is an option. This could be the logo…


.
I kinda like that “CAUTION! Hot Light” thing you mentioned too. Maybe they could even do that in Neon Orange so it would show up good.
Reckon some would like that better?? :smiley:

What do ya’ think??

I see your still in for yours & I am certainly still in for mine. :+1:

Perspective people, perspective.
……
Edited to try & remedy my royal screw up…. detailed in a post below.

Actually, I would find that logo you just posted pretty funny, but I’m not sure many others would.

I would too, it would not bother me in the least. But, kinda like you said; we are probably in the minority. . :smiley: . :wink:

Perfect logo for “Turdfire” brand light. :wink:

That would work.
Or make a robust & hearty brand light that can take all kinds of abuse and brand it… “Turd - KNOCKER

Teacher, calm down and Tally-ho.
Was hoping that following up that turd statement with “I’m still in for 2”, AND the exaggerated language of the post would give away that I was not serious.
For a THIRTY SOMETHING DOLLAR light this will be great even if it IS turd brown.
Also, to the haters, just use some oven cleaner on the visible parts, sand off the bunny, and there’s your original version. You would pay many, many times more for a custom light built to your high standards and tight tolerances.

Thanks bansuri - was worrying that it’s getting a bit heated.

It’s okay if people are disappointed with the change; everyone is entitled to their own opinions and tastes. But we can have the discussion more respectfully, and stick with critique, rather than attack.

I was joking when I suggested a black pocket clip would be contentious, but that generated a couple pages of discussion anyways, and now we’re fretting over the transformation of the light to include an engraved logo on the button cover

I also enthusiastically vote for a bare button if Lumintop can be talked into it for the group buy, but let’s not get carried away.

As far as I know the project history, the big changes were:

  • Tapered tube - Fritz reported this was a good change for use with a pocket clip.
  • Emitter evolution - XP-G2 > XP-G3 > voted XP-L HI + voted LH351D > SST-20. My take is the evolution was generally positive, except the change from LH351D to SST-20 has mixed pros and cons, and the response was muted as a result of that and widespread desire not to delay the light further.
  • No longer a bare or clear finish - this was intended to be part of the character of the light, so the most significant of the aesthetic changes. But it still is an aesthetic change.

And even those changes weren’t really that big. It’s still:

  • Smaller than all but a handful of 18650 lights (eg - DQG Tiny, CNQG Beauty)
  • 1+7+FET driver
  • Triple emitter
  • Tail e-switch
  • Ramping UI (although changed from Narsil to Anduril)
  • Very affordable compared to its feature set

I recognize sometimes small changes add up to more than a given person’s interests may allow, so I’m not surprised to see a handful of people drop out of the group buy. Overall, however, this still looks like an excellent fit for most of us.

:smiley: :smiley: :person_facepalming: Ooops… my bad bansuri. It went right over my head. My apologies… I will go back to that post & fix it.

Thank for informing this older fart (me) we are of the same opinion.

Take care…. :beer:

Personally, I'm going to be happy with this light as long as it functions as intended. Put a bunny or a turd on the switch, I don't really care. I appreciate the work others (and not me) have put into the design and internals and if the manufacturer puts a pretty discreet logo somewhere on the light who am I to bitch about it? I haven't spent a dime yet and if I don't like it I don't have to buy it. But I will buy at least the two I've put on the list because it looks like it's going to be an absolute winner for an EDC light. Thank you again to everyone that spent their spare time to make this light happen, I appreciate you.

Mike