I’ve done a few of these and love them. I recently built a Astrolux SS triple and acquired a S41S. Both are awaiting tailcap mods (I need to get on that!). The illuminated tailcaps do go really well on them.
I like this mod mostly because I also have a Klarus Mi7 (aluminum), and the absolute worst thing about it (it’s still very good and one of my top EDC choice though) is the occasional accidental activation in my jean’s pocket. Tail switch would have been so much better I think.
Thank you for the GAW chance. Good luck to all!
PS: tomorrow is back-to-work day for the Lunar Year countries T__T
Definitely in on this one… Nice looking light for a giveaway! :laughing:
So that’s kind of a difficult question to ask though. I’ve had a lot of true mods, but basically, those are all just emitter/reflector/driver swaps, and I don’t think count in the same was as something a bit more hardcore.
To answer the question, I’m thinking something more along the lines of my first REAL mods, which were my old Maglite mods done just as bright-white LED emitters were starting to catch on and get bright.
My first Magmod was probably the most difficult and intricate; I cut a sheet of Radio Shack project board to fit the head and painstakingly mounted 36 5mm bright white LEDs, resistored and wired in groups so a failure wouldn’t end up killing the others. The LEDs were whatever “20,000 mcd” 5mm leds I could get off eBay at the time. I built the assembly with a pigtail soldered into a bulb base so it was removable and fully reversible. It was very impressively bright, but extremely floody. I ran with this for a while, but eventually moved on to…
…The second mod; using the same mag host, and an early P4 Cree XR-E (The first high-power LED I ever purchased:), I built a mule. I wasn’t impressed with the unfocused beam and moved on pretty quickly to my next mod.
The final mod for this particular light, and the favorite I am submitting as per this giveaway, was a 52mm aspheric optic, mounted over a EZ-900 die XR-E emitter. This light was an insane laser-beam thrower (for the time) and was the first light I ever had built capable of throwing a useful beam to 1/3 mile (over 1/2km). I’ve looked, but can’t find a photo of this light to post. It would have been built, likely in 2010 timeframe, I know I had built it by early 2011, and had it for a while by then. I’ve since moved on and have disassembled this light, but it’s still one my favorite builds, and was the most impressive for the time.
This build was probably as old as BLF. I know I wasn’t a member at the time I built it though, so there isn’t a build thread. I’ve mentioned it many times, but never in detail. My first post here on BLF, in the “Introduce Yourself” subforum, from April 13, 2011, mentions that I already had the light by then:
Thanks for the giveaway gchart and congratulations on the up coming 500.
I’m new to any sort of flashlight mod so just the basic rudimentary stuff is helpful to me. I suppose a spring bypass is about as rudimentary as it comes, so I’d pick relic38’s back to basics tutorial “How-To: Add Copper Braid to Springs”.
Sounds like that Mag had some miles under it’s belt, and having made the journey from ultra-flood to ultra-narrow! I’d love to see any pics if you ever run across some. I do miss my old Maglites. A couple years ago I stupidly threw away my 2AA and 2D Mags that I had since childhood, both had bad corrosion from alkalines. They would have made fun and nostalgic hosts.
PS - hope things are looking up with the job situation!
My favorite mod tends to be whatever I last worked on.
However, one mod that is relatively unique that worked really well is my Sunwayman C10R. It’s very small, looks great, has a nice beam and terrifically high output for its size.
The C10R is a small sideswitch light powered by one CR123. I converted mine to triple XPL-HI and enlarged the interior battery space so that it fits a much larger 18500. The internal modifications needed to create this space were quite extensive. I don’t know of anyone trying a similar mod with this particular light.
If it doesn’t count as a mod (as it’s made of scratch), then I won’t pick one of the great flashlight mods I’ve seen, but CRX’s How a Zippo Armor lighter should have been made. As a flashaholic smoker I am , I found it very good idea and I really enjoyed reading something other than flashlight mods @BLF.
It would have to be my modded thrunite Tn40vn. Changed out the xpls to Xhp35hi creating a 8700 lumen 500kcd monster. It was modified by vinh and can be purchased at skylumen.
A close second would be my x6 triple xpl. Modified by dbcustom. 4500 lumen wall blaster.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I am still a bit crap at soldering, so in the end I chickened out and bought the BLF X5 that already had this mod pre-installed, but it’s something that I one day hope to build in most of my lights. I don’t mind the constant drain, I don’t get to use my flashlights often enough anyway, so why not keep the batteries busy?