howdy all - new guy from krautland

Howdy all,

my name is Simon. The most recent issues with another forum currently undergoing major reconstruction aggravated by some serious IT backup problems (and run by a seemingly stubborn bulldog lady with some apparent attitude issues) has led me here. I have been a lurker for about one year over there, before I registered and tried to contribute some helpful replies. I noticed that forum was indeed kinda friendly, but it was my most recent search for keywords on fabled google that has provided me with enough information to not wait any longer for that particular place to come online again, but move ahead and register here.

I cannot offer much, as I am not really an electronics guy. Despite my research, I have yet to fully understand the working principles of LED drivers. My knowledge of amps, ohms and watts sufficed to fabricate completely new wiring for my recreational cars, that's it, plus I needed a handbook of industrial standards for that. You see, I will probably ask more questions than I can offer answers.

I am not a military guy, but have some ties with the 302nd MIB when they were still stationed at Wiesbaden, Germany. I live a few miles from the US Wiesbaden Army Airfield.

My interests are art and technics, and that can be combined in many ways when you define those terms loosely. I play alto sax, classic Spanish guitar (Alhambra), surf guitar (Gibson epiphone with Pyramid .012-.052 nickel wound strings, close to bending the neck) but have killed my amp recently, slide guitar in open G and a few jazz/ boogie licks on the piano - on the latter, nothing to write home about. Music - well, I am interested in most styles, from classic to Jazz, all sorts of Blues and Folk to Rock'n Roll, Surf, Punk, Heavy Metal, Bossa Nova, you name it - it probably will sound good. I also especially love older cars, especially American classics from the mid-50's to the mid-70's. I have a '65 Mustang and a '67 Mercury, both undergoing extensive restoration (the mustang for over ten years). I used to draw pictures very well, from simple sketches to photo-realistic (mostly cars, some guns, and -of course!- nude women), but spinal problems rooting back to a rather severe offroading accident back in 1996 are finally taking their tolls - it has become tough to draw a simple straight line with shaky hands without resulting in what could pass off as a seismometer graph.

OK, on to the flashlight subject: Sometime back in the 1990s, I got what I still regard as my first "quality" flashlight, a MagLite 3C. Used it a lot around the house, until it got stolen from my car about ten years ago. A UK penlite 2AAA was my first "professional" flashlight, mighty lightweight and (by that time's standards) quite bright, a lot brighter than the M@g. A friend of mine lost it when we checked out a '69 C10 stepside he wanted to buy, and I replaced it with a Pelican 2AAA, which has seen only very little use tho. After that, I have used those cheap multi-LED aluminum torches with great pleasure (mostly advertising giveaways) and a few experimental HO LED flashlights that look like those tactical lights you see in movies all the time; my best friend had run a few series of those back when he was enlisted at polytechnic university.

My most recent flashlights have been a SureFire 6P which came REAL cheap on eBay, and after some research, a solarforce L2 from ITC.

Since 2009, I use a well-worn mini M@g as EDC, first crudely modified to accept a regular "super-bright" off-the-shelf LED, but later fitted with a Terralux LED. My woman has another one like mine, albeit in much better shape. She tends to really care for stuff, while I am more interested in proper function. A beautiful finish will get you nowhere, be it a firearm, a ride, or a flashlight! I am happy with that torch, it still takes cheap AAs and provides me with plenty of light in dark staircases. I must say, even the moderate 320 lumens solarforce dropins pose blinding reflection at close quarters, not to mention they require CR123As, or rec batteries with an appropriate charger. I do love the rather inexpensive surefire-clone by solarforce, though, as a backup.

Consumerism is one thing, but I wouldn't have registered here if I didn't want to do some modifications beyond what is regarded as "solarforce Lego".

I am quite fond of my cheap military lights, a genuine Fulton MX991/U from the US Army and a Varta box-type flashlight from the German Bundeswehr, date-coded 1962. And yes, both are going to be modified. I already have a custom heat sink looking like an aluminum hedgehog, and four Cree XR-E R2 on one custom board, along with UCL lenses. Still unsure about driver and battery choices.

I must say, the flashlight thing is much like the car thing. On both, you'll find similar topics:

"How many lumens?" vs. "how many horsepower?" is the most obvious, but even when the bragging begins, there are no differences: "Mine is brighter, but I left it at home." vs. "Mine is faster, but it's at the shop for carburetor tune-up". Also the same for general appreciation: "What, you paid $ xxx for that? Dude, it's only a flashlight!" vs. "Dude, you paid $ xxx fer that? It's only a car!"

Alright, I guess I have written more than what was asked for. Please don't be mad, I thought it would just be fair for you to know who and what I am.

Cheers,

Simon

Welcome Simon, this is a much friendlier forum than that 'other' place...enjoy your stay!

Dave

For a guy who says he doesn't know much about electronics, it sounds like you know a lot about electronics! I love the idea of taking a super rugged old flashlight and updating it. I just don't have any of those.

Welcome to BLF!!!

Simon, welcome to the forum. Some of us weren't even worthy enough to be "approved" for beatings on the other site. Glad to have you onboard.

Welcome here Simon! I think I am in jb1's position on the 'other site' lol. Didn't even completely make it 'fully certified' before I gave up and found this place. MUCH better.

Aloha and welcome to BLF Simon!

Welcome aboard :)

Welcome To Blf ....

tell me the truth ...do the drinking fountains all have beer in them in Wiesbaden ?

It was a good idea, to register to this forum. You are wellcome.

It seems I share some of your passions, like the sound of V8 engines, even I don't own one these days. I had a tuned up Formula 400 in my younger years (quite long time ago..). I like in fact all, that has an engine, that's why I have got driving licences for everything that has wheels.

I like also the sound of guitars, even though I don't know how to play, at least not yet. That's on the to do list for next year.

Btw, despite I'm living now here on this tiny tropical french island, I speak german as well (sort of), since I was born in Switzerland.

Hi there Simon, a warm welcome to BLF! We're glad to have you here.

I'm no electronics expert myself either, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying a good deal on a nice budget flashlight. So please make yourself at home here.

Cheers.

Welcome Simon!

Enjoy the forum! Don't be afraid to ask if you need help. :)

Howdy back,

thank you all for the warm welcome!

@Boaz: I'm afraid none of those thermal springs has beer in them... sadly.

Welcome! You made the right choice... things are much, much friendlier here and us poor folk aren't marginalized.

I'm a 60's kid myself-I remember when the muscle cars were sitting in showrooms.

If you can do automotive work, you won't have any trouble with flashlights!

Rich

A warm welcome from me as well, Simon. :)

I'm looking forward to enjoying a cold, refreshing Paulaner later today. ;)

I love paulander [quote=Oxy Moron]

A warm welcome from me as well, Simon. :)

I'm looking forward to enjoying a cold, refreshing Paulaner later today. ;)

[/quote]

I love paulaner...

Oxy did you try the Franziskaner Hefe-..?

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/142/1946/?ba=WeezyBoPeep