The final prototype has been completed by the machinist and is in the mail to me first thing tomorrow (Monday) morning for installation of the Luxeon, converter, dimming subcircuit, Fraen optic, glass UCL lens, you-name-it.

Here are pictures from various angles; the only two things that may change are the metal switch knob (I felt the plastic might not hold up as well) and the actual shape of the legs. They may be left a little thicker on the production units in case we do drill and tap at least one hole, or three holes, or no holes, or two holes, or -- anyway this will be pending the results of an upcoming poll of the people on the list:

To my eyes it has a kind of curvy, organic look to it which I like immensely. And the BulkHead™ seems to complement the King's Crown perfectly, making the entire package resemble some kind of alien craft fluidly pulsing through deep space with its three mechanical tentacles trailing smoothly behind...okay, either I watched the final episode of Matrix once too many times or maybe it's just way past beddy-bye for me.

But just for kicks, he also made a one-off (and I mean ONE-OFF, so please DO NOT ASK for this!) gigantic, 4½-inch reflector head, just so we could see it. I have no idea what kind of beam (or perhaps we should say "ray") it might throw...

it's comin' together, guys. Thank You for your continued patience...

2.2.04

Entire VIP thread was deleted on the CPF by accident.

2.3.04

Original VIP thread viewable here. Warning very large file.

2.4.04

Finally GOT the final prototype in my hands this very afternoon! Took it apart to examine it and there will be some slight changes as I alluded to elsewhere in this (hopefully not deleted again ) thread, most likely the switch knob and the actual shape of the legs of the King's Crown.

But while it was apart I snapped a quick picture

Now the Real work begins...

2.20.04

Just so's y'all don't think ah'm restin' on muh bee-hind...

They's a-comin' along just fine...TOLD ya I been busy.

2.21.04

ETA coupla months, one lanyard hole untapped, metal knob if I have anythiing to say about it (and thankfully I have the ONLY say)...!

2.23.04

The only accessories in active development are the big (and I mean Really Big) head and the AA pack, everything else waits. I am but a one man operation.

2.25.04
Pocket Space Needle

I finally settled back into a routine after the SHOT Show trip, and tonight I put together the final (and I mean FINAL, please guys no changes or requests except for the single lanyard hole in one of the King's Crown legs and maybe a different dimmer switch knob as the current design is difficult to use the way it is) fully functional prototype and I must say I was a little surprised at the output myself.

Without further prefacing let me throw on da pics.

First up is the powerpack during assembly (LOOKIT all them wires, Ma!), which all subsequent accessories (one or two different heads plus the AA power pack are what's being planned for the immediate future) will thread onto:

Here is the VIP with the "stock" head:

What's that? You see some unusually high numbers on the light meter in the background? Here, take a closer look:

Yup, a true 1238 lux from one meter with a TWAK-binned (sorry, best I could get, heh heh) Luxeon III. This and all subsequent meter readings were taken with the dimmer on the High setting (Medium and Low settings will, of course, be dimmer with their respective two-plus and forty-plus-hour run times).

Here it is with the medium head -- but I did say a Really Large Head, right? Stay tuned:

What? Looks like a low number on the meter in the background? Look again:

See the X10? That indicates over four THOUSAND lux. Nearly as bright as some of the early Space Needles.

But what about the Really Large Head? Fear not, it is coming:

And notice the number on the meter starting with a "9". This is no joke:

This reading of 9,640 lux exceeds the output of all Space Needle IIs ever built, and nearly matches the output of the "Super Needle" that I auctioned off a while ago that made over 10,000 lux.

So yes, size still does matter, although I'm sure the new ultra-efficient and dimmable VIP converter had a little something to do with it, and turned this thing into a true Pocket Space Needle.

Still waiting for final machine shop quotes, and then -- the build begins! Please stand by with Paypals ready...