Nightvision Laserbeak! (OR How to Make a Nightvision-Preserving, LED Throwie,Transformer Toy Mashup Flashlight!)

An Instructable by a noob for the noob.

What do you get when you mashup a nightvision-preserving flashlight, an LED throwie, and a spiffy Transformer toy? An instructable with a really long name! We'll call it "Nightvision Laserbeak" for short.

If you appreciate this instructible, please visit my blog for more ideas:
GoodCleanCrazy

My instructable, Give-Laserbeak-Glowing-Red-Eyes is the starting point for this Laserbeak hack. This is part two of a three-part Laserbeak hack instructable series. So if you haven't read part one yet, now is the time!

This week we're going to take our Laserbeak (Booster x10) toy and make it a useful, night-vision preserving, cool form factor flashlight. In other words, you can light up the dark without "blinding" yourself.

I use this for reading serial numbers in a dark flight simulator. The pilots frequently do night training and the red flashlight doesn't impair their nightvision, as our eyes are less sensitive to red than other colors.

Supplies:
Soldering tools
A modded Booster x10 Transformer Toy
Two (2) 3mm superbright red LEDs from LSDiodes (Robots will kill you!)
Needlenose Pliers
Diagonal Cutters
Tape
Exacto Knife (optional)

Step 1 Out with the Old

Desolder the red LED from Laserbeak. Using pliers, carefully pull and wiggle the two leads until the LED pops out. Save for future projects.

Comments

[WriotE]

Funny shit, Funny shit^.

[royalestel]

Hopefully you mean the last step. I didn't intend the WHOLE instructable to be funny. That would be less effective.

[WriotE]

Oh! Sorry, now that i look at my post again I see that it sounds a little too sarcastic. Yes i was talking about the last step. Cool instructable!!

[royalestel]

Alright! Thanks and I'm glad you got a laugh!

[element_boyz13]

transformers would like this piece of crap

[royalestel]

So anyway, what were you thinking when you posted your comment? I heartily welcome specific criticism that I can respond to/improve upon.

[royalestel]

You're being a bit negative today.

[gamer]

the plastic isnt opaque if the light goes through

[royalestel]

Ahh, right you are. I should say mostly opaque under normal conditions! I was wondering who would nitpick about that! :)

[travgag]

hey nice instructable but ur link is broken to lsdiodes.com

[royalestel]

Thanks! I fixed the link as well (thanks for pointing that out, too).