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

Watch out...

You might be getting fired!

(It's a movie reference.)

If I understand correctly, the process is something like this:

  1. Private forum messages get sent to everyone on the interest list.
  2. Click the link in the message.
  3. Order what you want through Neal’s shop.
  4. Payment is probably via Paypal, I think.

The plan is to make 50% of the lights with XP-L HI 3D, and 50% with LH351D 4000K 90CRI. But the LH351D might happen a few weeks later because nobody seems to have it in a good tint bin and it’ll need to be ordered from the manufacturer.

A lot of the details are still being worked out. However, if things happen in batches, as has happened on some earlier projects, there will need to be some way of deciding who gets to order one and who has to wait. It’ll probably be the lowest numbers first, as in, the people who requested one earlier can order sooner. That’s part of why I went through the entire thread history to properly sort and link each request, to make sure nobody is missed and they’re in the correct order.

That’s only the BLF list though, and I don’t know how things will be handled on TLF. If someone there could put a timestamp on each request, I could do the same on the BLF list, and they could be merged into one.

About when shipping can happen, I really don’t know. Hopefully very soon, but that depends mostly on what Neal and Lumintop can arrange, and I don’t know much about what’s going on there. Really, the rest of the process mostly depends on Neal. So I hope that will go smoother than the GT project did. He has had a year to improve his infrastructure.

Neal is handling the part acquisition, so definitely make sure you’re talking with him. It’d be helpful if I’m Cc’d too, so I know what’s happening.

No problem there too. I’m just currently writing the email to Digikey’s quoting department, so it’s gonna take a bit of time.

I dont expect even the T1-T4 bin will be much below the BBL if at all. Samsung bins are not to be trusted. Look at how far above the BBL the T6 and T7 were eventhough they were supposed to be at or below. I would be happy if the T1-T4 is at the BBL. But nevertheless thanks for your hardwork. It’s good news nonetheless

If it’s a T1/T2 bin, even I might like it. :slight_smile:

Based on the poll results, 4500K would be the most popular CCT… if that type of LH351D existed. But since it doesn’t, a T1/T2 is about as close as we can get.

For my personal use though, I’ll probably be pretty happy with XP-L HI 3D. I find it really hits the spot. And I’ll probably mod one to use 219B, eventually.

On a related note, forum member Nite Shadow pinged Nichia about making more 219B emitters in the nice R9080 sw45 bin everyone loves, and it sounds like it’s still possible. However, the minimum order size is 3500 pieces, the price is unknown, and the lead time is at least 3 months. So it’d require a pretty serious buyer. But if we aren’t able to find a newer higher-powered LED with the same nice tint, perhaps more old ones can be sourced.

I like the renderings with the tapered tube ends better, but this style could work well with a silicone sleeve to fill in the low spot.

You shouldn’t have to doing this, but I thank you for it.

All hands to the pumps.

The message has been sent.

We now wait either a single day, or until Monday/Tuesday perhaps for a great LH351d, even to Toykeeper’s eyes.

I really hope we get the T1/T2 bin :smiley:

Is it too late to up my qty from 1 to 2 lights total? I would like 1 of each led type.

Thanks for everyone’s hard work.

Cpeng 2x lights total (1 of each tint)

As Leo Buscaglia once said,

Those who think they know it all have no way of finding out that they don’t.

I would be more interested in the 219C SM4070E tint bin because the efficiency and output is higher and tint is similar to the 219B 9080 except red rendering is not as good.

Just some thoughts I had.

We have 166x lights signed up now and it might grow to 1800 lights (1500 people) by the time the orders are ready to be put in. If half will be for the xpl-hi, that’s maybe 900 orders total of that. Assuming the production doesn’t hit any snags, Lumintop can probably build those in 2, maybe 3 weeks. (IIRC they did 400 Q8’s per week)

I suppose you could divide the list into 2 batches so roughly 750 people get the PM with order instructions. That might result in 400 orders. Those can get shipped. Then a week or 2 later do the other 750 people.

Then a week or 2 after that the LH351D version will be ready for orders.

If the same coupon code is used, all 1500 or so people signed up will order the LH351D at once resulting in long waiting. If a new code is created for the LH351D then it can be sent in 2 batches like the xpl-hi version.

This might reduce the time from “Payment to Delivery” which some people are sensitive about.

We could have 90% of all orders done over a 6 to 8 week period, fingers crossed.

It would also be wise to ship an early production version to someone close by who is familiar with Anduril to make sure it’s functioning correctly. Luckily Neal shipped a GT to Steel1024 in Taiwan who found an error in the way Narsil was flashed (I think 2 numbers were swapped by accident). Lumintop was able to reflash all the drivers before shipping and prevented a big problem. Maybe Neal can be shown how Anduril is supposed to function so he can check that the production lights work like their supposed to.

Anyway, just a few thoughts I had. I’m sure you guys will find the best way to do it. Cheers.

IIRC Clemence mentioned there was/is an extremely high minimum order requirement to go along with the lottery concern, though I agree the sm4070e to be a great option.

After hearing how the LH351D looks in a TIR triple I absolutely wouldn’t be opposed to another option. When that poll was run the SST-20 wasn’t big like it is now, IDK if those have good tint bins available though.

If we could get 219Cs (or the new LH351C… although its kinda untested) that aren’t super green I’d absolutely be up for that too.

The low spot is the best place to hold it. It works particularly well between two fingers in a cigarette-style grip, sticking out like a second middle finger. If I put it between my middle and ring fingers, I find I can hold it comfortably while also doing other things with both hands, or even holding something else at the same time.

The raised tail section keeps it from slipping, and the button ends up right where it needs to be for a thumb press.

There are also about 400 lights for TLF, so it’s over 2000 already.

About how to handle messages and possible ordering codes and possible delays, not much is decided.

It might be possible to allow only XP-L HI orders at first, and then send messages out again later when the LH351D is ready. Or maybe Neal’s shop could list and allow orders for both, with a note that the LH351D will ship a few weeks later. That makes some things easier, and makes other things worse. Or hold back everything until both are available. I think it mostly depends on which set of headaches Neal is willing to deal with.

I agree that would probably be a good idea. I think that was supposed to be the idea behind proto3, and production was originally supposed to start quite a while ago, but proto3 didn’t result in a lot of useful feedback. So we’re still kind of in limbo.

It’d be nice to get a final sample to test and approve.

Yeah, when the poll happened, the theory was that production would start soon. But then a lot of time passed. It’s probably too late to do another poll, but I definitely wouldn’t mind if more emitter options were available after the initial batches. It might be good to have SST-20 high-CRI options in at least two color temperatures.

… and, personally, I thought the XP-G3 looked fine too. As long as it’s behind a frosted optic like 10511, the rainbow effects go away.

The throwier 10507 optic is popular, but it makes almost every emitter look bad. Meanwhile, the frosted 10511 makes almost every emitter look good, and it can be polished to give more throw if desired.

The overwhelming consensus seems to be doing the xpl-hi now and do the LH351D later once good tints are procured.

I did not comment on it, but I also prefer doing the xpl-hi first.

For sure, TK, it would be great to get a final sample to test and approve. I really hope this can happen somehow. We all know how things can get really messy, really quickly, if there are problems with the initial run. The Miller had the patience of a saint dealing with these issues in one group buy, and I doubt anyone else would want to deal with that. I certainly wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I know there were other factors, but I assume dealing with it all contributed to his burn out of group buys, and this forum.