Best modded lights of the year…. let’s see:
1. Aleto N8 zoomie - I really enjoyed modding this one. In its stock configuration it’s a small 18650 zoomie. I removed the tailcap, installed a side electronic switch, replaced the aspheric with a fresnel, added knurling to the head and a rubber grip to the body, and painted the whole thing grey with duracoat. Emitter replaced with a dedomed XML2 and driver with Nanjg105c with DrJones lumodrv with FET. Entire light is smaller than a Sipik 68, but runs on an 18650. This is the mod I spent the most time on this year. I’ve continued to tinker with it all year.
I learned a lot from this mod. It was my first time successfully installed a sideswitch onto a light not designed for one (successful), my first attempt at using fresnel lenses instead of aspheric (successful), my first attempt at refinishing using Duracoat (mixed results), and the first light where I really got into seeing how small I could shrink it (light went from 108mm down to 91mm).
The duracoat required a month of curing before use and even then it wore quickly in some high-use areas, especially the bezel. I developed an alternate finishing technique using hobby paints and super glue. The new technique looks the same as the duracoat, seems just as durable, but only takes a half-hour to apply and cures complete in minutes with no odors (acrylic hobby paint mixed into desired color and brushed onto aluminum followed by a layer of superglue gel brushed on with qtips, followed by a layer of matte hobby paint varnish, and then flat hobby paint varnish. The super-glue provides the durability, the varnish is to help get the right shine).
2. XTAR WK42 - guts replaced with 5000k neutral XML2 on Noctigon, Radioshack micro-momentary tact switch, and 3-amp Nanjg 105c with DrJones lumodrv. Mod only took around a few hours to perform. Turned a good light into a GREAT light. Incredibly nice for EDC carry. Runs on an IMR 16340. I made 2 of these this year.
2. Ruxto XL-03 and similar from DealExtreme. Both very similar lights. The AA version of the Aleto N8 zoomie. I modded two of them this year. Super small for a zoomie, with nice spots and wide floods. Much smaller than a Sipik 68.
3. Coast HP1. Modded with alternate bezel, tailcap, driver and emitter. Interesting optic for a zoomie and nice knurling on the body tube of the light. Not my best mod of the year though.
4. Convoy S2+ mini modded from 18350 to 18500, running on a BLF17DD FET driver and triple domed neutral XPL with widened Carclo optic. Mod was surprisingly quick to perform. Only took a few hours. Puts out an enormous wall of nicely tinted white light. Incredibly bright for something so small…. much brighter than my MTG2 lights. Also gets incredibly hot very fast.
5. Sipik headlamp. See Racer86’s post above. Same headlamp and almost the same mod. Did a simple driver/emitter swap. No other changes, except to toss in a contact plate with a bump in the center so it can work with flat-top 18650s. 1.5 amp 3-mode Nanjg 105c and a 4500k XML2 on Noctigon. This is my first headlamp. Despite the simple and crude nature of the mod I’ve found this light incredibly useful. It probably has gotten more actual use than any other of my lights this year.
Left to right: Modded Aleto N8, Xtar WK42, Rustu XL-03 and similar light from DX, Coast HP1, Sipik headlamp. I forgot to include a pic of the 18500 Convoy S2+ so no pic of that.
The Aleto N8 received very extensive external modifications. On both the outside and inside it looks like a completely different light from the original. The Rustu XL-03 clones look nearly the same as their unmodded version. Both are a few mm shorter and have black switch boots. One has a black rubber grip on the body. The Coast HP1 has a completely different bezel and tailcap from the original. The XTAR WK42 and Sipik headlamp look identical to their unmodded version from the outside. The S2+ mini looks the same externally except for the triple emitter.
