Through my inimitable charm, wit, style, and grace, not to mention more than three dozen politely persistent phone calls as well as scores of e-mails to key people, along with bribes of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and authentic Hawaiian Kona coffee, yours truly managed to get his hot little hands on a very nice shipment of genuine 5-watt WHITE Side Emitters:

Preliminary tests indicate these guys will produce a very nice solid white color, and therefore this is a bonafide feeler to see how much interest there might be in a batch of 5-watt NexStar NexNeedles:

1.30.03

We are underway. Here you can see the modified bulb sockets with their little red and brown tails waving merrily in the air. They know they're going on a nice, bright ride:

Note the stacks of laser-cut aluminum heatsinks in the background.

The backs of the NexStar reflectors have been cut down and the holes reamed out, to allow the lenses and top half of the SE Luxeon bases to pass up and through so that the optimal focal point can be attained. Here they are sitting on a towel air drying after the dust and debris from the sawing and sanding were washed out, using 72 bottles of Evian Natural Spring Water (Not!):

Just thought those of you who are waiting so patiently for your 5-watt NexNeedles would like to know. After all, these things take time, and true to the MR Bulk mantra:

"We will sell no (insert Bulk mod here) before its time."

Heh heh...

2.01.03

First batch undergoing final testing before shipping next week. They will be sent in order of payment receipt: