Match's Mods: Streamlight Scorpion Mod - Will it Host?

Aloha and welcome to BLF wpnorton!

Welcome, wpnorton! It's nice to hear someone getting something out of my projects. If I remember correctly, the only parts you'll need are a drill bit (I think it was 55/64") and a little bit of aluminum or copper foil. Measure twice, drill once. If you're careful in removing the stock lens it can be reused. Other than that, once modded, a regular P60 drop-in will slide in like it was made to. The only other thing to keep in mind is that the drop-in I used I modded with a 2.8A SB driver. The problem was the components on the backside making contact with the rim of the body if tightened down too hard. Still worked great, just gotta remember to keep that gorilla strength in check. Let me know if you have any other questions and how it turns out for you.

-Match

Do you have links to the parts you used. I can't seem to find anything on a 2,8v SB driver?????

I think the below link is the lamp module your refering to? Am I on the right track?

http://www.batteryjunction.com/1-mode-led-upgrade-r2.html

The drop-in I used was a 3-18v XM-L from kaidomain.com. I used that one because I thought I'd still want to run it off of 2x16340's. I didn't really like that drop-in as much as I thought I would, so I put a 2.8a 3 mode driver in from shiningbeam.com. I just looked and it appears that driver isn't listed on his site atm...which means he's out of stock. This one is very similar. If you look at the driver linked, you'll notice it has components on both sides of the pcb, which works, but is less than ideal due to the diameter of the body. Honestly, if you want a great drop-in, I would recomend this one from solarforce-sales.com. Combine that with one 17670 and you'll have a fantastic little torch. It's actually what I've since swapped mine over to.

awesome write up! I have a few scorpion lights that i didnt really know what to do with until now!

I am just learning, so I am just curious as to why you are recommending a XP-g drop in as apposed to a XM-L? I see some XM-L P60 dropins with 460 lumens, but again, when it comes to changing the driver, you lost me. I think i will have to get some in my hand first to see what everything is...

Would this work as well? http://www.batteryjunction.com/p60-dropin.html

Welcome Mustangous! (I like the name...I used to grudge race an '01 Bullitt.)

To answer your question, I don't think I recommended an xp-g, (I used an xm-l in the build). Having said that though, I have since put an xp-g drop-in in place powered by a 17670 li-ion. (I still really like a good xp-g with a smooth reflector...)

Do you still plan on running yours on 2 primaries or single li-ion? Deciding that would help narrow down your choices.

That's one (insert f-word here) great!

And on top of that, you brought that famous line. reminds me of that blender spots on youtube; "will it blend?"

I'll make use of that in the future!

Simon the sixfink

(who's been dumped for a younger, prettier and brighter "torch" in RL... d'uh! Leaves me with more time here, now does it?)

I been into mustangs since I was 16, now 32. Still have my original 90 fox. I need to get back into it though. Lol. House priorities.
I plan on using 123’s because I get them for free :-). I was thinking about the one I linked about with the 3 mode option. Was going to order through them, but hear their shipping takes 10 days. I’m a little impatient for that. Lol

You mean this one from batteryjunction? (your link just went to the general drop-in page). That should work well. It's not driven nearly as hard as some of the others, but since you're running on primaries that's a good thing.

Another couple options are a single mode and a 5 mode solarforce xp-g from Lighthound. I've been using the 3 mode version, and it's the best xpg drop-in I've ever purchaced (this one doesn't like 2xCR123's though, but loves one 17670).

Took the scorpion apart today... The lens was a little tough, I used a wooden dowel. put a slight nipple in the lens. what did you use to get it out? Now i just ordered the XML, 3 mode and some copper strips off CPFmarketplace.. Hopefully everything works out!

Thanks again for the thread! Great help to make use of these scorpions i have. I have atleast 5 others that i am gonna experiment with other drop ins too... Laughing

I used the eraser end of a standard #2 pencil. Good luck on the mod, let us know how it turns out for you.

Hmm… That’s the first thing I though but my pencils are 5/16" and the bulb opening is 3/16.
I hope we are working the same flashlight. Do you have the led or incandescent? They look the same from the pics.

Now that you mentioned it, I had to go back and check. I found my origional reflector (I keep all extra pieces), and sure enough the pencil didn't fit. I think I was remembering what I also thought to try first, not what actually worked. My apologies, it's been awhile. I honestly can't remember now what I used, may have been a chopstick.

Heads up though on re-assembly... Once the drop-in is in place and you snap the lens back in place it's there for good, since there's now way to push it out. I had to destroy my origional lens when I went to swap drop-ins. Couple of choices here... You can purchase a stock replacement lens (what I did), or you can hollow out the center of the stock lens till it's just a thin ring and use it as a retaining ring for a standard P60 lens (what I'm going to do...) I'll let you know how it works.

Good point! Didnt think of getting the lens out after the new drop in is in. I’ll have to make sure everything is good to go before I snap it back in. Where did you get the higher amperage driver from? Have to think if i want to do that before i snap the lens in, or just use a different light later in for experimenting.
Where did you get a replacement lens from, streamlight?
I am waiting for the dropin before I bore out the housing just in ass this one is slightly different. Now I just can’t wait. I’m hooked! Lol

You can get a replacement lens here.

The driver I first used was a 2.8a 8x7135 unit from shiningbeam.com.

As mentioned earlier though, a minor problem with that driver is that the chips mounted on the underside get in the way when screwing down the head.

Any of the above linked drop-ins should work fine though on 2xCR123.

I found this forum by google, it brought me to this post. Thanks Match. I too greatly enjoyed my scorpion. It was my first lithium powered flash light and it is what prompted me to buy a 6p. A few months ago my car got stolen, and in it was my scorpion. So I found a cheap one on ebay. It arrived with dead batteries, a melted lens and a dead bulb. But for $10 plus shipping, oh well. I decided I wanted to upgrade the bulb, preferably to an LED. However that seemed to be a dead end. Since I had upgraded my 6p with a cree dropin I decided to see if I could make my old p60 fit. It looked to be similar in size. So I found this post, and in a matter of minutes using a uni-bit I had my p60 in my scorpion. Now I just have to order another cree drop-in and a new lens! Thanks!

hmmm, there's a M@g 2xAA mod thread saying use a 25/32 bit to open up the head to fit the dropin.

Comparing that to 55/64 recommended here -- how come? Do dropins vary that much? (Wouldn't surprise me if they do).

Before I buy an expensive bit and start thinking about buying a little tabletop drill press ...

Hank,

The difference is that in the mini mag thread I only used the pill, whereas here I used the whole drop-in (pill + reflector). The reflector adds a little bit to the overall diameter.

Pogue_Mahone,

Welcome to the forums. I'm glad you were able to get some use out of this old thread! Good thinking on the uni-bit... they're handy little tools. Did the stepped hole it make cause any issues?

-Match

A uni-bit huh? I have a few of those... Maybe I can do this mod afterall!

I have a selection of unibit sizes and the first one I used, I think it was 7/8" max dia. and it didn't open it up enough, so I stepped up to my 1" and it made a nice chamfered edge around the top which actually gave me a little more room for the drop in. I also used a slightly thicker o-ring between the reflector and the lens, as the original was about the same as the size difference between the p60 reflector and the head. It didn't come out perfect, but I'm happy with it. I am now debating on the LED to put in it.