posted 09-08-2017 05:01 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by 328KF:
Has anyone asked the question yet?

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posted 09-11-2017 07:38 AM               

Differences on reflector and acrylic lense. The first prototype we made to test the assembly was a functional one, but it is not good for giving you an idea, and the picture does not make justice to the final result. My advice is: if you are looking for the highest, functionality, reliability and efficiency then go for the acrylic version (frosted lense, like in the picture); if you want it looking closer to the original get the glass version + reflector. Looks nicer, still a very good flashlight, but not the best that can be achieved with nowadays technology.

Regarding the light projected, the reflector one has a narrower angle, but thanks to the "orange peel" reflector the transition from spot to corona is still soft. The corona on this one is limited to 70 degrees, but on the TIR lense (frosted) there is residual light output, but still useful on a 150 degree angle.

Two choices for multiple penlight backers. Unfortunately this is something I should have thought before, but now I can't repeat the survey. Yes, you can choose any type, but I'm going to ask you to send me an email.

9- 2017 date engraved. We are doing a great effort to be able to offer 4 different options on a small production, and initially the 2017 option had to be discarded because of the very limited interest among the backers. In fact we were planning to make just one engraving, and finally we decided to go for the two top choices.

Thanks again for trusting us. I'll do my best to post pictures of the "glass lens" version as soon as possible.

posted 09-29-2017 12:59 PM               

When we offered the glass version, and we did it because we wanted as many of you asked for it, we knew that it was not going to be easy, specially of we keep in mind that the delivery date since the end of the funding, was very tight.

The light was designed for a very specific TIR lens, and now we wanted it to make a glass + aluminum reflector version. Unfortunately it is not a "swap" and lot of things had to be modified and tested again to allow the penlight be assembled with both solutions while keeping same performance. Focusing point was not the same and metal reflector can cause a short, so we had to make a plastic injection part for it; water resistance can't be achieved the same way, and we had to design a test a reflector from zero, as there was nothing in the market available matching our dimensions and requirements. The sapphire glass had to be customized too, even we tested many versions of AR coating (anti reflex). We could not allow glass parts to touch metal parts, because that way is too sensitive to impacts...

Being said this I would like to apologize for not being able to match the expected delivery date, and I hope you will understand that technically it's been a challenge which we have enjoyed.

Being said this I would like to tell you that now that this version has been already fully tested and it works nicely. We have obtained better results that expected and the efficiency is really good as well as beam quality. Mass order has been launched and we expect if everything goes smoothly to deliver all of them before the end of this month.

Oh, I'm adding too a picture of the packaging, which I do think is a good design. We made it looking at the "flight plans."

posted 12-07-2017 12:02 PM               

Our dear supporters, we would like you to know that some of the lights we have produced will be used on the movie "First Man," which I guess will make them even more a collector’s item.

posted 12-22-2017 10:00 AM               

Here is the Barbolight replica (at top) with an authentic ACR FA-5 penlight from the August 1972 production that was flown on two space shuttle missions.

posted 12-22-2017 12:41 PM               

I don't know if they actually had an original to work with, so it may have been based on photos and details from published specs, auctions listings etc.

posted 12-22-2017 01:17 PM               

The knurling on the head is different, but different production runs of the ACR FA-5 had different style knurling, so the Barbolight may have been based on an earlier model than mine.

The inscribed text is larger on the Barbolight and the "On" and "Off" labels are farther apart. The on or off arrow/notch indicator on the under lip of the head is absent on the Barbolight.

The other major physical difference is the weight. I don't have a small scale handy, but the Barbolight is noticeably heavier (without batteries installed).

posted 01-05-2018 01:44 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by DG27:
I would love to see a photo comparison with your Apollo 17 flown penlight...

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posted 01-05-2018 02:59 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Panther494:
Anyone this side of the pond received theirs yet?

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posted 01-05-2018 10:09 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by apolloprojeckt:
I did ask also where I can order it, not any reaction, it seems it's for a small club.

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posted 01-06-2018 08:01 AM               

• Left - Barbolight's Apollo ACR penlight replica.

• Middle - Original ACR FA-5 flashlight serial number 3016 Date of manufacture August 1972. There is no record of this flashlight being flown.

• Right - Wooden mockup of flashlight used by astronauts in training in the simulator.

posted 01-06-2018 10:08 AM               

Mine has the same issue with the on and off rotation being reversed but I can live with that, will be kept for display purposes anyway.

posted 01-06-2018 01:06 PM               

First of all I would like to say that we are very pleased by the reactions of people who have received them. As a first time project there has been some small mistakes with some backers, and we are working on fixing them quickly, but other than that it seems quality, finish and light output has been satisfying for everyone.

1. Shipping. Every single penlight has been shipped. We have used different methods in order to make it as fast, safe and reasonable as we could. Most of our sales of dive lights are done by distributors, and we don't retail too much, so we are not optimized for this.

   Some of the shippings have costed us as much as 60 US$, which is a nonsense. USA was done from LA, as we have there a warehouse, but rest of the world were done from Spain. We were setting up a small warehouse too in Hong Kong but we wanted the lights shipped before. Everyone will receive their lights, and even if they are lost because of the courier we will ship replacement ones.

2. ON-OFF "Issue". Some of the pictures we used for the design (we had not a real one) give us the idea placing the ON and OFF indications on those positions, and I think that on a "round" switch it is not bad or good, it is relative, but I understand that it can be weird. Well, there is nothing we can do to change that, as long as it is laser engraved.

3. Will more penlights be produced? Definitively, yes. In fact we had to make 500 bodies and 1000 PCBa drivers to get access to the machines with the level of accuracy and finish we wanted, and of course some extra had to be produced for destructive tests and replacement in case of mistakes. The remaining lights will be offered initially to backers as a way or showing you our gratitude.

4. When they will be produced? Soon, in fact we are working on it, but we are thinking on how to do it to provide the best possible service.

5. Am I quick replying emails and messages? No, I'm not. In fact I'm not a commercial type of guy, I'm more focused on product design and manufacturing... but I reply to everyone and I do my best to take care of customers. Some of our clients have been diving with our flashlights and trusting their lives in our products for more than a decade, and they will choose Barbolight every single time... even if I'm not the fastest replying emails.

Christmas is over and we will be back in normal schedule from Monday. Thanks for your support and comprehension.