About the ugly beam:
the S42 has the same ‘improved’ optic mounting as the fixed heads of the S41S: a rim protruding on the inside of the head. That rim was too high up in the S41S and seems even higher in the S42, causing the optics to sit too far from the leds. So what should be a decent hotspot is a wide uneven blur.
A fix could be grinding away some off the top of that rim with a Dremel to sink the optic a bit, I will try that for the S42 one of these days.
I just received the A6_BLF/S41/S42 18650 tube from BG for my S42. Screwed it to the S42 and inserted an unprotected flat Panasonic NCR18650B 3400mAh (Green) in it. It works perfectly (I had previously faced big issues trying to use the original A6_BLF tube with the S42). Did not try any 18350. And that’s only my experience, don’t know about others …
Good List!
I’d add button is CLUNKY and not Crisp and the optics not seated at correct height.
All in all: the S42 is a BUDGET S41
Picked mine up from the post office (or rather a tabacco store with a postal corner) today (got a belated notification).
Everything everyone wrote is true. 
On Jun 23, the email to me said in part:
Since the USB cover is redesigning now, they would be in stock and shipped next week, please kindly wait for it.
I hope I don’t have to wait until July 17 just to get it shipped…
Good thing paypal allows disputes for 180 days. I’m seriously considering initiating a dispute over this horrid mess. I haven’t been able to test the item to see if it even works. I’m not keen on damaging a battery just to test it. I’m not doing any mods and I don’t have extra battery tubes. This was presented as a complete, usable, functioning product. Obviously it is not. Lesson learned…
Got my two S42 Nichia today.
First impressions: Bluish tint compare to my 219B, artifacts, usb cover falls out, strange UI. Works with my Vappower IMR 18350, no dent.
No real use for as it is on daily basis. Perfect for the glove box in the car with its micro usb charge and glass breaker.
Got mine today. Wow the UI is horrible. The light itself is beautiful but the UI and the messed up optics makes it a fiasco.
Has anyone received the replacement tube?
While waiting for my tube I added a spacer in the tail. O ring is exposed but at least the light works.
Got mine today, as expected the tube was to small, had to use my 18650 tube to get it to work, maby with S2 tail switch as an isolation.
the delay between button presses and light change gets me the most i think, not sure why, just erks me.
just received an email from bangingGood, offering a 16% coupon for Astrolux, only good for a month as consolation.
removing the driver spring and swapping the tailcap spring for a thinner and more collapsable one solves the problem.
However, it’s still a horrible flashlight
I also got the 16% code. All in all this light has been such an anti-climax. It could have been superb,instead it’s a mess. As a previous poster said, mine will probably end up as a car torch. I think BG could have given better compensation than a derisory 16% code to be honest. Very underwhelming.
i got the tube also and its doesnt work with most of my batteries
have my Stainless 18650 tube from a s41s and the s42 tail-cap with the steel spike attached on at the mo, interesting look. :sunglasses:
also just blinded myself trying to turn it off in moon mode, dicky UI.
Edit: an unprotected 18650, nothing over 65mm
My 40mm 18350 battery tube just arrived, by domestic (US) mail from City of Industry, CA. The threads are longer on both ends, solving both of my original battery problems (front threads too short to reach the driver board, rear threads too short to screws onto battery without damage). I was able to use an AW 16340 as well.
Presumably the USB port cover is coming next month.
So now it works reliably, but the design issues remain:
Still for the low pre-production price paid, I will rationalize a use for it.
Mine says only good until the 20th… :arrow_right: :exclamation: :confounded:
I think i’m gonna put a LD-2 driver in mine.
Not sure yet though…
I did a quick ceiling bounce comparison between a S41 Nichia 219b and my S42 Nichia 219c with three different pairs of fully charged 18350s from three different brands - Enercig, Aspire and Efest.
The luxmeter says the S41 is consistently 25% brighter then the S42. That’s consistent with an outdoor run i did last night. There is a visible difference in output, and the tint is colder on the S42.
I was expecting the opposite!? 
Any idea wether my light has a problem or else?
Doesn’t matter anyway, my code does not work and if it did, any astrolux i would want i can get 20% +/- with the coupons available from one of the boys.
Can’t remember the exact percentage. But my 41 is brighter than my 42 in a ceiling bounce test too.