I finally got mine. Shipment/delivery was delayed but overall a very good purchase.
Funny isn’t it, we finally have a manufacturer giving us a C8 sized flashlight that makes 3000 lumens out of the box and it’s not enough for us. 
These really are a great smallish light, the sheer amount of output they are capable of just never ceases to amaze.
Exactly, Dale. The sheer performance and good value we get from a host of this size is just amazing. Good thing the manufacturer made this host available to the enthusiast community and they continue to listen to our suggestions.
From Cissy at Sofirn…
EDIT: THE KITS ARE IN STOCK!!!
And… with regard to modifying the tail switch (In my case, I am using Lexels FET tail switch): I can confirm the C8 host’s clicky tail (*in the larger 20.8mm host Sofirn sells) does seem to fit well on the rear-end of the C8F. With that said, I’m not yet sure if it’s making good contact at the thread-end where the battery tube/body needs to make contact with the tail’s retaining ring/board. And further… as I intend to modify whatever tail switch I can get from Sofirn, I won’t really know how it’s going to fit together until I get to it.
Another observation: the battery tube + clicky tail of the C8 host ALSO do thread into the C8F’s head fine (but it takes a few more turns to get it snug- so a slightly deeper fit- out of the box with no driver in either).
I again asked Cissy if she can find an old “clicky tailcap” from the first C8F rev… I’ll report back when I get more info now that CNY is over.
EDIT #2: FACTORY IS OUT OF THE REV A CLICKY TAILS… SO ONE WILL HAVE TO USE THE C8A (SAME AS C8T) TAIL SWITCH (MODS NEEDED?… TBD.) :person_facepalming:
Great Zappaman! Meanwhile I just saw the host is available again on aliexpress.
I asked through AliExpress messages about the C8F hosts being out of stock. The reply stated they would be available on Feb 25th, and they do seem to be back on the site now, but with an adjusted price of $13.78.
Heck, I should have looked first!!! I’m ordering another set now- thanks guys :+1: 
It is still a very good price! :+1:
I corrected the price in the OP.
I love these kits… Just snagged another pair for $25 and change with coupons! I have a pair already (still building and using Lexel’s Narsil driver), but I’m going to do a direct drive build with this pair (and max out my 30Qs). Should be fun. :sunglasses:
Can Paypal be used for payment here?
The offer on ali is not consistent about it. There are 2 payment sections on the offer site and the upper does list PP while the lower doesnt.
I used paypal for my order.
Good to know, thx for the confirmation.
Time for me to get an Aliexpress account.
IIRC you pa ya slight premium to use paypal…
That went really smooth. Signed up and ordered two C8F hosts in no time.
Yes, aliexpress charged me 0.77€ on a 22.56€ order for using paypal. But aliexpress let me use € as currency, which saved me 0.60€ in paypal-currency-conversion-fee. That’s an ok tradeoff.
@ZozzV6
Thanks a lot for convincing Sofirn to sell this as a host. I would never have bought it as a complete light.
Any chance to get them to sell other lights as hosts? I’m really eyeing several of their lights for some time now 
What do you want? If it has a special driver size or switch location we need to convince Lexel to make PCB design for them and then we can put in TA drivers and the possibilities are endless.
How to use PP I can’t see any PP options in Sofirn store payment page ?
You need to put the item in the cart and proceed to checkout and payment. PP is in the line under credit cards choices.
Hi. Looking for input.
What would be an appropriate driver if this light was built with red xpe2 LEDs?
My newbie sense is telling me direct drive is a no go. I think I’ve got that much figured out. But can anyone recommend a driver that would use the xpe2(s) to the fullest?
Thank you in advance.
The Paypal option was towards the bottom of the page, worked easy as in other shops.
Considering hosts: I‘d love to see the upcoming K6 (SRK style) as a host, meaning with reflector, LED-MCPCB and backplate, but without LEDs and driver. I do replace those anyway :smiling_imp:
The SF11 might make a nice host as well.
red XP-E2 to the fullest (which is perfect on this this big copper DTP board) would be about 2A each, so you need a regulated 6A driver. The only driver I can think of that will do that is a lineair driver with 16x 7135 chips, you can buy a 8x 7135 driver and stack an extra chip on top of all of them. This solder job is something you have to be in the mood for . Still, because the red leds have so low Vf, the 7135 chips have to burn off a lot of overvoltage so they get really hot, make sure that they have a good heat path to the pill (like clamp the driver wel on both sides, and use extra solder on the outside of the chips to create the heat path.