Hi chuckhov, I think if you approach any USA modders they will be more than willing to help you out on this one (yes, some loves for you!). 
L4M4, Yezl Y3 is actually not a bad idea for us to start with.
I have the Trustfire X9, it is too big: pointless extra length, pointless extra weight, nothing special about it. I'm not sure if that's the same for the Maxtoch, but at least it is too expensive.
Perhaps we should go a step further than even with the BLF A6, wether it will be a big Courui style light or the compact thrower. Manker was able to reproduce the EE A6 but having the cut-out for the clip newly designed was already troublesome. So what is needed is one complete flashlight that can simply be reproduced. So someone with designing skills and lathe skills (could be a cooperation with more people) must make a prototype that has all we would like and none of the annoying design flaws we are so accustomed to. It is quite an effort to do this, but I'm sure we are better at it than the usual chinese budget light manufacturer (and worse than Thrunite/Fenix/Eagletac/Olight). What makes the work easier is when for the prototype we use available parts whenever they do the job (i.e. for the compact thrower we could just use the EE X6 tube and tail, there's no need to redesign that), and make new parts when suitable ones do not exist (i.e for the compact thrower a new head needs designed, with X9 size (?) reflector and modest but suitable finning so that it still looks good with the skinny body).
Instead of a “group buy” someone could set up a “group build”, someone who actually likes logistics 
What about a Kit-Version?
Host + Driver + maybe cables + LED for a couple of € cheaper
Someone who builds these lights together is a bit pointless without worldwide free shipping.
We should make an extra thread where people just write possible lights for a GB and then we make a poll about it.
I think you are on to something here - I think you are correct in saying a lot of people asking for the Courui already own one - mines got the bridged resistor and performs well for a virtually cost free mod. Being able to buy a ‘mod kit’ done by the BLF, supplied by whoever to fit at home is a good idea but sadly I think the logistics of getting all the parts together would probably be too much 
There is also the problem that some Courui’s are a lot better than others, quality wise - mine was just about perfect thankfully but if members wanted to buy the body only part/or a complete light - as others have said, the quality would definately need looking at.
Now, I have a dedomed / sliced off led STL-V6 (which is very similar to the Maxtoch being planned/suggested) and I can tell you now - the free mod of bridging that resistor allows the Courui (not dedomed) to blow the sliced led STL right out of the water - unless you own a Courui, you won’t understand why it is so good (and COULD be way better), Ill try take some photo’s tonight when we walk the dog to to show you the difference in beam styles.
The STL has a tight beam - the Courui is a wider, ever so slightly more floody beam -BUT that throw part of the beam goes a good 25% further (and that isn’t even dedomed!) than the STL.
I may be wrong, but if you want throw distance there’s no power mod that is going to replace/be any good without correctly shaped, big deep reflector?
The budget part of the whole thrower light is always going to be a concern, using either a maxtoch or a Courui is not going to be very cheap, but I believe spending $20-30 on modding a reduced price Courui (if we sold an amount say $25-30 so $60 all in) would reap far bigger benefits in power/throw that a lightly modded Maxtoch , which would from what I’ve read end up at around $60 too.
Ideal light for me, and if I had a lathe I’d be on it immediately is the 2 cell STL V6 type body with the Courui head 
My only real woe with my Courui is I am ALWAYS frightened I’m going to drop it. This thing needs a secure wrist strap point so badly. The side switch for me is perfect, I really don’t like rear switches on bigger lights as you need 2 hands free to change modes, switch on and off etc which when walking the dog or holding your kids hands is really inconvenient.
A BLF Courui that comes from the factory with the big KD reflector and that isn’t rigged with camera parts isn’t a light that too many people have.
It will have a Courui D01 body but not a Courui D01 head screwed on it.
Pictures borrowed from Linus Hoffman.
Guys it keeps getting discussed about designing a BLF thrower.
The GB I have going although not a 30 dollar light, I think before all is said and done, the 60 dollar or so price will be about on par with most of the others discussed, after mods and all, or getting the company to get it right with BLF specs.
The Big bonus I am thinking of with this also, is once minimums are reached there will be no sending samples multiple times to get it right, because Maxtoch I think, will nail it first time with the new emitter, which also means a lot faster time to be able to buy, instead of months and months of testing and changing and testing again.
Also if you haven’t ever held, owned, or used a Maxtoch you don’t know just how well they are built.
Fit ,feel and finish are excellent.
I feel they are among the build quality of a lot of the BIG name lights, and they make lights for a number of the big name companies from what I understand, only at 1/3 the price of the big names.
The package, as it is now, I think is a great deal to be honest, 4 amps minimum, gonna try for 5 if the numbers get up, XP-L HI emitter, Custom BLF engraving (etching), paypal option (tracking included in price) Nylon zippered carry bag, lanyard, extra O-rings, tailcap button (boot) and extra tail switch. Plus the option to get the belt holster for 2 bucks if you want it shipped with the order. Is this really such a bad deal? One of the GB guru’s (Kronological) even made a post last night in the thread post #83 check it out if you haven’t already. GB Interest ///OFFICIALLY CLOSED 11/8 @ 9pm CST/Maxtoch M24 Sniper with XP-L HI /// 250K lux @ 4.3 Amps!!!
Thats my project i would love to have a mini version
That is BAD to the BONE!!! :heart_eyes: Did you make that? 
This!
There seems to be a bit of a gap in throwers between the C8 format and anything larger… if someone would make a compact thrower ( C8 sized but with a reflector 30% larger (A60 sized?)) I think it would sell like hotcakes. The only lights I have seen that fill that bracket are name brands which tend to be very expensive ($100+). The A60 did it for awhile but quality and availability were hit and miss.
In the 55mm head diam area (C8: 45 mm, HD2010/M12/T08: 63 mm), there are some, like the C818: http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S024220. It's a real nice quality light and KD has a very good price for it. Also the XinTD/Convoy X3 is in that size category with a 55 mm head diam.
This or the x3 would be a great blf thrower
It has square cut threads, E-switch and rear switch lockout.
It has a healthy driver but something has to be done about the disco modes.
Ditch the UrAnus branding by meeting the MOQ and give it a BLF name.
The C818 is a very good well built light! Thick integrated shelf. Excellent Matte Ano, push button and E-switch. Jump the resistor to get 5.4-5.5 amps at the tail cap. I went full bore mod on mine. I opened the pill from 20mm to 26mm and put the Maxtoch 26mm XP board with an extra stripped Maxtoch board underneath, to put the reflector (46mmx40) on the board, without altering or clearing the reflector, for the leads. I then elongated the lead holes, drilled and tapped for 2-56 button head screws to hold them down. I don’t like cycling thru the blinky’s, so I went with the FETDDMoppydrv and a XP-L HI V32B and got 156kcd with a Sony vtc5. It will do more with a fully de-domed XPL, XML or XPG2 with the FETDD driver. I really like this light, even mod stock and a DTP board and de-dome the LED I got 136kcd, tint 5200-5000k no green/blue that I could see, so for $23.00 and some change this light is a steal! To me any way! Note: I put the reflector on the board for tuning purpose’s like all the lights (throwers) I do, and no centering rings. To get the best focus and cd, I used 1 paper sticky back insulater to shim the reflector up .250mm I’m guessing?
Yep, I like the driver alot! Except the blinky’s!!! |( I like it because you could use the push button to turn on and cycle thru the levels too? I’m guessing that’s why they have 2 mcu’s? Jump R2 to get 5.5 amps and I wonder if you could replace the FET to a better one? But I’m keeping the old one in hopes somebody out there can re-program it? I don’t know of such things as this yet? :~
That Uranusfire has a really nice size reflector IMHO.
Personally I think 18650 is a much more widely accepted form factor, mainly for pocket-ability.
It seems like all the manufacturers are in the same region in china anyway, so if we cant simply send them a CAD file, (which is extremely simple) we could specify what we want to Manker (or similar) and have them get back to us with the parts available locally?
Its so hard to get any information out of the manufacturers, but if we could source Uranusfire direct I’m sure we could get a nice limited edition light for a much more realistic price.
A CAD competition could be in order
Chris
It wouldn’t take much to do really? My SRK X3 18650 battery tube almost fits the 818 and looks really COOL!! Often thought about making adapter rings to change 26650 battery tubes to 18650’s or a 26650 battery tube for my Courui’s, to carry a little smaller/lighter. :bigsmile: It would be great to have both 18650 and 26650 battery tubes with a light even if you can run 18650’s in them?
It doesn’t mind me at all, I have plenty of batteries, but from a cost reducing perspective it doesn’t help thats all.
My most used light is an HD2010 because I get massive runtime and I have RyanSoh’s copper slugs which do an amazing job in heatsinking.
I’ve seen people like Robo mention they are on benefits etc, so for every $10 we can reduce the price we would probably double the amount of people that will buy, and thats important. This is BUDGETlightforum after all.
Its a bit of a joke reducing a retail price by $5 and adding 10 cents of engraving and calling it limited edition.
The whole lego thing is pretty fun, a host kit could be a goer but again will definitely reduce the volume of sales.
Chris
I like the X3, but I think the X3 is over bulky because of the waisted space in the tube - an 26650 needs a spacer / oring to sit tight.