Well, I've had this idea rattling around my head since the Quark Turbo was released (and I believe I posted it somewhere), but just now got a chance to build it. Nothing real spectacular (in fact I feel kinda lame for posting it in the mods forum, but where else?), but I like the results.
Basically, the Quark Turbo comes with two options: 2xCR123, or 2xAA, with practically the same energy storage. You could slightly improve it with the mid-loading 18650 tube, although I think there were some compatibility issues with the Turbo, but even that does no good for primary users.
But...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590536924/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5589951285/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590544994/
Turns out if you take the Quark Turbo 2xAA tube, you can easily bore it out to 17mm for 3xCR123.
To do this, you need any Quark 123² head (Plain, tactical, or turbo -- they all accept up to 9V input), the Quark Turbo AA² body (which is not necked down in the middle, unlike the non-turbo AA² tube -- I'm pretty sure it would break through the flats), and of course your choice of tailcap.
I just removed the clip, chucked the body on the three flats (with brass shims) in the 3-jaw and drilled it through in the engine lathe -- quick, easy, and good results. Used a 43/64 drill that should have just obliterated the 17mm counterbores, unfortunately it was a hair undersize, and the throughbore is now 16.91mm. Good enough for 3xCR123!
You can see the step at the top here -- the anodized part is 17mm (0.669"), just like the 123^2 bore, and there's one like it at the head end as well. The throughbore is 0.666" -- the step lights up like a neon sign step in the pictures below (thanks to -- who'd have guessed -- another flashlight!), but it's only 0.002". Think I'll have to rebore larger to fit 17500s, but then again I thought I heard 17650s worked in the 123^2, so maybe I can find unprotected ones small enough to fit this... Or maybe I'll just find a 43/64 drill (that cuts to size) or reamer and fix it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590602976/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590016657/
And moonlight mode now should run for... 45 days. :twothumbs
Basically, the Quark Turbo comes with two options: 2xCR123, or 2xAA, with practically the same energy storage. You could slightly improve it with the mid-loading 18650 tube, although I think there were some compatibility issues with the Turbo, but even that does no good for primary users.
But...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590536924/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5589951285/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590544994/
Turns out if you take the Quark Turbo 2xAA tube, you can easily bore it out to 17mm for 3xCR123.
To do this, you need any Quark 123² head (Plain, tactical, or turbo -- they all accept up to 9V input), the Quark Turbo AA² body (which is not necked down in the middle, unlike the non-turbo AA² tube -- I'm pretty sure it would break through the flats), and of course your choice of tailcap.
I just removed the clip, chucked the body on the three flats (with brass shims) in the 3-jaw and drilled it through in the engine lathe -- quick, easy, and good results. Used a 43/64 drill that should have just obliterated the 17mm counterbores, unfortunately it was a hair undersize, and the throughbore is now 16.91mm. Good enough for 3xCR123!
You can see the step at the top here -- the anodized part is 17mm (0.669"), just like the 123^2 bore, and there's one like it at the head end as well. The throughbore is 0.666" -- the step lights up like a neon sign step in the pictures below (thanks to -- who'd have guessed -- another flashlight!), but it's only 0.002". Think I'll have to rebore larger to fit 17500s, but then again I thought I heard 17650s worked in the 123^2, so maybe I can find unprotected ones small enough to fit this... Or maybe I'll just find a 43/64 drill (that cuts to size) or reamer and fix it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590602976/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31311658@N07/5590016657/
And moonlight mode now should run for... 45 days. :twothumbs
