Beastmaster
Enlightened
I just got 3 VG FB1 1x123 flashlight bodies in.
Two words sum up the bodies - Small and interesting.
Compatible with the E-Series heads only, the tailcaps are proprietary. So - don't plan on doing any Lego's with them other than with E-Series heads.
The flashlight is the smallest body I've seen yet. It's a good 1/2 inch smaller than the E1L's, and that's including the VG's tailcap prongs.
The bodies seem to be compatible with 16340's and 123's - so feel free to use both.
The tailcap is removable, a bit small, and I worry about it's durability. It's far shorter than the SF and Aleph ones, even with the tail stand prongs.
The tailstand prongs on the rear are sharp enough to cause pain when you dig it into your skin. Be careful.
Knurling on the body isn't as aggressive compared to the SF or the Aleph/Sandwich Shoppe bodies. It's smoother, but still gives you some semblance of control over the flashlight.
The HA coating is close to the SS 1x123, and is shinier than the SureFire HA coating.
The pocket clip is "okay". I don't know how durable long term it will be, but it does resist some level of prying against it - so it's decently strong. I'm going to give one of the bodies equipped with a KL1 head to my 6 year old and see how bad he can munge it up.
One minor criticism - the body is "light". I don't have a postal scale, so I can't weigh it, but the body from VG seems slightly thinner and is lighter than the bodies from SF and Wayne at SS. I worry about the durability of it - I do have a tendency to bash stuff around. The bodies from SF and Wayne seem like I can drive my truck over it and they will survive. I'm not so sure about the VG one.
Considering I paid under 30 dollars (including shipping) per body, I figure you get what you pay for.
I have an E1E coming inbound from the BST forum, so I bet that the E1E incan head combined with the VG FB1 body will provide one really TINY flashlight that will give some decent output.
It seems that Vital Gear is still available for now - at least through SupremeCo. It's a toss up as to whether SupremeCo is the body maker and VG is a name brand of it, or if VG's inventory got bought out by SupremeCo and they are selling what's left.
Pictures and links are below.
-Steve
Left to right: Aleph 1x123 w/KL1, SureFire E1L w/KL1, VG FB1 w/KL1
Above - body only, Aleph vs. VG
Above - Comparing batteries vs. body size
Switch end - all 4 holes in the spikes are threaded too.
Above - you can see that the body can handle larger rechargeable batteries.
Above - in the hand comparison. From top to bottom - Aleph, SF EL1, and VG FB1.
Picture Links:
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4613b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4614b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4615b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4616b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4617b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4619b.jpg
Two words sum up the bodies - Small and interesting.
Compatible with the E-Series heads only, the tailcaps are proprietary. So - don't plan on doing any Lego's with them other than with E-Series heads.
The flashlight is the smallest body I've seen yet. It's a good 1/2 inch smaller than the E1L's, and that's including the VG's tailcap prongs.
The bodies seem to be compatible with 16340's and 123's - so feel free to use both.
The tailcap is removable, a bit small, and I worry about it's durability. It's far shorter than the SF and Aleph ones, even with the tail stand prongs.
The tailstand prongs on the rear are sharp enough to cause pain when you dig it into your skin. Be careful.
Knurling on the body isn't as aggressive compared to the SF or the Aleph/Sandwich Shoppe bodies. It's smoother, but still gives you some semblance of control over the flashlight.
The HA coating is close to the SS 1x123, and is shinier than the SureFire HA coating.
The pocket clip is "okay". I don't know how durable long term it will be, but it does resist some level of prying against it - so it's decently strong. I'm going to give one of the bodies equipped with a KL1 head to my 6 year old and see how bad he can munge it up.
One minor criticism - the body is "light". I don't have a postal scale, so I can't weigh it, but the body from VG seems slightly thinner and is lighter than the bodies from SF and Wayne at SS. I worry about the durability of it - I do have a tendency to bash stuff around. The bodies from SF and Wayne seem like I can drive my truck over it and they will survive. I'm not so sure about the VG one.
Considering I paid under 30 dollars (including shipping) per body, I figure you get what you pay for.
I have an E1E coming inbound from the BST forum, so I bet that the E1E incan head combined with the VG FB1 body will provide one really TINY flashlight that will give some decent output.
It seems that Vital Gear is still available for now - at least through SupremeCo. It's a toss up as to whether SupremeCo is the body maker and VG is a name brand of it, or if VG's inventory got bought out by SupremeCo and they are selling what's left.
Pictures and links are below.
-Steve
Left to right: Aleph 1x123 w/KL1, SureFire E1L w/KL1, VG FB1 w/KL1
Above - body only, Aleph vs. VG
Above - Comparing batteries vs. body size
Switch end - all 4 holes in the spikes are threaded too.
Above - you can see that the body can handle larger rechargeable batteries.
Above - in the hand comparison. From top to bottom - Aleph, SF EL1, and VG FB1.
Picture Links:
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4613b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4614b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4615b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4616b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4617b.jpg
http://www.yeefamily.us/sgyee/cpf/vg1x123/img_4619b.jpg
Last edited:
