Un suspecting victim of a ROP

[mdhammack]

Last night at work a co-worker and I stopped off for her to burn a cigarette after we dropped off our samples. One of the new hires that just started with her was at the "smoke pen" with his trainer showing off his streamlight LED. He flashed it at her face and giggled when she looked away. She tells me "get him with yours", well I didn't want to hurt the poor guy too bad, so I gave it to her to have the honors. They were about three feet apart and when I handed my 2D ROP, with a fresh pack and high bulb I might add, he does the usual "pssh, freakin maglite" response and lifts his light to get her again, when he was met with the high bulb full focus right in the eyes :nana::shakehead. I tried not to laugh at him putting his light up in front of his face to block the incoming flood of light. Later that shift, he was over at the console with their group when we came in. She went over to chat with them while we were at our console doing our thing and I coule hear him talking about what happened earlier. He didn't try to act all macho like it wasn't that bright or anything, he freely admitted the ROP stomped a mudhole in his poor lil' light. It got some interest from him and he wants me to build him one. lol I have built about 9 of them for guys at work, so it's not the only one around, but looks like I'm gonna have to make more

So, once again the little ol ROP spreads the flashaholic bug amongst the normal folks.lovecpf

 

[KiwiMark]

Great story mdhammack, I love it!

he does the usual "pssh, freakin maglite" response

One thing to like about the ROP is that it is cleverly disguised as a commonly available 'none too special' Maglite torch. When someone buys a modern LED torch that is advertised as being much brighter than a Maglite, then that person comes across a flashaholic with what appears to be a standard Maglite . . . hilarity ensues! :laughing:

Around the house my favourite torch is my 3854-L, but if I want to show off then the 3854-H is pretty darned impressive - though on my next camping trip I might take my newly modified 3D instead.

One thing that is hard to beat is the value for money from a ROP - the bulb, reflector & lens are not expensive to change (nor are they difficult to change) so the only part that costs a little are the batteries & charger and even they aren't all that dear. If you look at what a Surefire costs, you can get more light for less money by doing some easy mods to an old Maglite 2D. With lots of people buying these fancy new LED flashlights there should be plenty of 2nd hand Maglites for sale that you could buy to modify (I have 4 x 2D, 3D, 2 x 4D & 6D - all modified).

 

[mdhammack]

I built one of the 2D ROP's a couple months ago to carry at work. I thought what the heck, let me ask a couple of guys if they would be interested in one. I asked a few of the guys that hunt if they would like a powerful, compact light that could be treated like a work light, something capable of being used as a short range spotlight. I only planned to sell about 4 or 5 of them, I have already done 9! Everyone seems to like the 2D size and power that they offer. I give them the lights with the low bulb installed and they still get lots of "wow"

 

[jamie.91]

haha thats what i like to hear, this story just made my day

i love mag mods lovecpf

and i do wish i could spread flasholism too

jamie

 

[Kestrel]

:bow: 2D ROP's.

One reason that non-CPFers seem to like them so much is for their manageable size compared to the other (longer) Mag hotwires.

 

[Patriot]

Good story. Introducing people to "real" flashlights is fun, even if it sometimes hurts them...haha.

 

[signal 13]

Please excuse my ignorance gents, but what the heck is a ROP? And how exactly do you go about modding a Mag to make one?

I've been a SF junkie for so long I, too, scoff at the thought of a Maglite. But I wouldn't mind giving a Mag mod a shot. I have a few cop buddies who just refuse to part ways w/ their 6 year old Streamlights that have about as much output as a birthday candle :candle:

They're always asking me to build them a light but they don't wanna dish out the cash for a SF.

 

[signal 13]

Ok, just followed your link on how you built yours. I'll see if I can keep up. Is this something a n00b can do?

 

[Illum]

:bow: 2D ROP's.

One reason that non-CPFers seem to like them so much is for their manageable size compared to the other (longer) Mag hotwires.

Not to mention with the FM holder its a direct plug in "mag charger" with the tailcap off:nana:
there's a silver one going for $90 in BST

 

[LuxLuthor]

There's a master thread in the pinned list of threads at top all about ROP.

 

[mdhammack]

Please excuse my ignorance gents, but what the heck is a ROP? And how exactly do you go about modding a Mag to make one?

I've been a SF junkie for so long I, too, scoff at the thought of a Maglite. But I wouldn't mind giving a Mag mod a shot. I have a few cop buddies who just refuse to part ways w/ their 6 year old Streamlights that have about as much output as a birthday candle :candle:

They're always asking me to build them a light but they don't wanna dish out the cash for a SF.

For about a hundred bucks you can build a 2D that will come close to a M6 in output. May not throw as hard, but that all depends on reflector setup. I like the LOP and MOP for the smooth beam and may lose a of the long reach, but it closely resembles a surefire beam. If you do one, I am convinced the eneloops are hands down one of the better batteries for the 6AA setup.

 

[KiwiMark]

Is this something a n00b can do?

In my opinion the ROP is not all that hard to build - if you aren't completely unfamiliar with what a bulb is then you could do it. Basically you change the bulb and preferably the lens & reflector - these are all very easy things to swap over. Then you change the batteries to increase the voltage to 7+ Volts. This can be done with 6 x NiMH AA cells in holders or with 2 x Li-ion cells. You obviously need the required batteries and a suitable charger. There are lots of threads that include instructions and lists of components you need with links to sellers of those components.

My dullest 2D ROP is brighter & whiter by far than a standard 6D or even a xenon bulb 6D. Of course my 6D is also way brighter than a standard 6D.

 

[Mjolnir]

You can probably make an ROP for under $100. I believe mine cost somewhere around $60 including shipping, but not including a charger. I found that the cheapest way to make one is with 2 IMR 26650s and a reflector from kaidomain. If you use the 3854H bulb, you will get more output with the IMR cells than with Nimh cells, but you have to be careful or you will blow the bulb. The 3853 isn't quite as bright, but will run for much longer at the higher voltage.

 

[KiwiMark]

You can probably make an ROP for under $100. I believe mine cost somewhere around $60 including shipping, but not including a charger. I found that the cheapest way to make one is with 2 IMR 26650s and a reflector from kaidomain. If you use the 3854H bulb, you will get more output with the IMR cells than with Nimh cells, but you have to be careful or you will blow the bulb. The 3853 isn't quite as bright, but will run for much longer at the higher voltage.

Kaidomain offers free shipping, so while buying a reflector from them it is also worth buying one of these lenses. I have a couple and they are fine, for six bucks with free shipping they are worth having.

 

[Illum]

any idea on the shipment time of kaidomain?

I'd much prefer to pay shipping over waiting for something to arrive when they shipped it on the lowest cost option:shakehead

 

[KiwiMark]

any idea on the shipment time of kaidomain?

I'd much prefer to pay shipping over waiting for something to arrive when they shipped it on the lowest cost option:shakehead

If the item is listed as '[SIZE=-1]Availability:[/SIZE] ship right away' then it shouldn't take too long to arrive. But the free shipping wont be the fastest possible. Anything not in stock will be a pain to order, you'll probably get the goods - but when would be anyone's guess!

For faster service you can go with other sellers for some of the parts, e.g. when I wanted several glass lenses I got them from here: http://www.flashlightlens.com/str/index.php
The service and products are great!

But if you are after 32600 D cells were else are you going to get them from?

 

[Mjolnir]

If you want to go really cheap, you can get these:
http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1657
for $4, you get 5 glass lenses. They have no AR coating, but AR coatings are basically a waste of money in my opinion; there is no way that the difference in lumens will be perceivable.