We really need to start our own ‘Flashlight Factory’ with TK as president ….
In my opinion the designer’s original idea was way “cooler” but they probably never got/understood the idea for both internal and external design, and because they never got it they are pron to screw it up (proto4’s driver) and change it (with each new sample).
They got rid of the original raw material or clear anodization. They got rid of the machining marks. They added a long bevel to the battery tube on the head side “à la” nitecore concept 1. They added a bevel on the battery tube on the tail side (why did they not put the same bevel with moderate angle on both side ?). They changed the pocket clip (first good change IMO) and reverted it to the original one, they changed its color. They added a logo on the switch.
They have no idea what they are doing, changing their mind all the time for new things delaying the production while it would have been much straight forward to stick to the original design that they never understood. Externally, this flashlight no longer looks different than any other flashlights contrary to the initial goal. Externally, it’s no longer Fritz’s Works so why keeping its name : FW3A ?
I would wish they will revert to the original external design for a copper or brass or whatever material generally without anodization, but that will never happen. They didn’t get it.
It’s hopeless to see that they can’t make something different when left on their own despite the hard work done by those involved to make it a turnkey project.
Which is great for my wallet.
Most likely in the big scheme of things …. very small potatoes indeed.
And on top of that, very small potatoes that want certain things the general public has no idea about. And the majority of those people most likely would not want those things even if they did know.
Careful there Tally-ho. The last person who commented about these issues got a stern finger wagging from the mods and then disappeared.
Those were changed by Fritz, not Lumintop. He made sure to clarify this, and his post has been repeated a few times whenever the topic comes up. The last time was only ten days ago. I’m not sure why people keep posting the same false claims almost a year after Fritz tried to put an end to it, but it gets old.
The problem is more that we on BLF have no idea what they’re doing at Lumintop. Communication hasn’t been very good. It’s a bit like trying to chat with someone online through a router which drops a lot of packets and uses lossy compression algorithms on the rest.
To put it visually, someone sends a message like this…
… and this is what eventually gets received some time later:
So it can be a bit difficult to nail down details or sometimes even broad strokes of what was in the original message.
An old joke comes to mind…
Good joke!
He also said that the new design (long bevel) was growing on him so he probably wasn’t at the origin of it and probably not so found of it at first.
It sounds more a lumintop’s change, later accepted by Fritz who changed the angle on the tail side for a less akward combination of angles, probably.
What about the raw material with machining marks to make it looks like more a custom flashlight fresh out of the lathe which was the main idea, did he gave up on this too ?
Anyway, I already said what to do with my 4 units.
I’m not a pilar of BLF so I will not miss to anyone + I got 2 accounts permanently banned from CPF for less than that, I get used to stern finger wagging then i’m fine with whatever decision from the mods.
I will have more time to complete some mods I’m planning since long.
There’s only one mod, the forum owner and he doesn’t step in unless rules are broken and we don’t have many rules.
In general, you have to go out of your way to be permabanned, and Mr. Admin usually will give you a warning if you're out of line.
That is usually the case when said poster thinks other people will follow his “Jerry Maquire” moment.
Some people are interested in the finer details of products.
Personally, I have decided to buy or not to buy stuff many times due to ‘minor details’ alone.
I think people complaining about the particular things they don’t like about a product is great feedback.
Of course, you can’t please everyone but the more ideas kicking about, the better.
Helps get consensus - while not everyone can be pleased, it helps find issues that a lot of people are passionate about.
I am down for one. Please can I make that two. Thanks.
I assume it is a joke, does not sound very BLF at least
I think that tally-ho has some fair points about the direction this project went, but wether you still want to buy the light is a matter of how you like/dislike the add-up of changes. In my taste I see both improvements and changes for worse and it adds up to still wanting my two units.
To decide to not buy the FW3A not because of how it became but because you did not like the process is also fair enough but do not waste too much emotion on that, the way this goes is all too common when involving chinese companies, the most practical way to deal with that is just let it go.
Bottom line for me is that even after nearly 2 years of waiting, this light should perform like few others. Being small, powerful, with a top notch UI and a tailswitch all for something in the $30 range makes it a winner for me.
Next up, Lumintop announces FW3A for $99.99….
That would be about in line with the GT initial group buy price versus full retail.
That’s with the BLF code…. $89.99 for everybody else…
I’m in for one!