My Modded Vintage ' Muscle ' Flashlight

AW

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Oct 15, 2004
Messages
33
Location
Hong Kong
My Modded Vintage \' Muscle \' Flashlight

I got this 60 something old vintage swivel head flashlight from a local auction site. The body is made of brass with fading chrome finish. It is kind of beat up but still in good shape. After a throughout cleanup and re-polish of its silver plated reflector, it seems to look quite alright. Since they don't use plastic those days, this old timer was made all metal with a glass lens. With its rugged built lasting all these years, I decided to give this old guy some muscle and pride.
The mod itself is simple enough and doesn't cost much at all. However, the result is truly amazing. I made a 8 X AA holder from two 4AA holders. Then replace the stock 2D bulb with a 6 cell xenon bulb. Using 8 X 2500 NiMH cells, the xenon bulb is being driven crazy bright and white. Runtime should exceed 1 hour or more ( not been tested yet ). Heat is not a concern because it got a nice air pocket inside the head and the metal reflector and glass lens will take the heat well. Comparing to a 2D Mag with the same configuration, this old 'Muscle' is much lighter and smaller. It throws very far with its 40mm reflector, a tad shorter than my 2D Mag Mod. The hot spot is tight with some good side spill. I am certain this little old guy will get some respect when I take it out for a hike /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
P.S. I 'll give it a dose of steroid when I find time to pot a WA1185 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


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This is the old timer, not an ice-cream scoup

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Simple components for the mod

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Screaming bright and white light from the business end

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Beamshots : (Left) The 'Muscle' (Right)2D Mag Mod with same config on tightest focus 10 feet from a white wall
 

Ginseng

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,734
Re: My Modded Vintage \' Muscle \' Flashlight

Very cool!

Wilkey
 

Icebreak

Flashlight Enthusiast
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Aug 14, 2002
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4,998
Location
by the river
Re: My Modded Vintage \' Muscle \' Flashlight

Excellent. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 

AW

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Oct 15, 2004
Messages
33
Location
Hong Kong
Re: My Modded Vintage \' Muscle \' Flashlight

I took this 'Muscle' for a short hike this evening and it ran for about 3 hours on a set of freshly charged NiMh batteries. The beam was bright and white for the initial 30 minutes and turned yellow with diminishing output later on.
 

KevinL

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 10, 2004
Messages
5,866
Location
At World's End
Re: My Modded Vintage \' Muscle \' Flashlight

Metal reflector... 1185...... SWEET!

If the internals can handle the awesome amperage of the 1185, that would enable the light to not only catch up, it'll be able to step into the future!
 
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