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

By GoodCleanCrazy
About: Every now and then I come up with a unique idea. And then I find someone else has already thought of it . . . which is AWESOME! Who knew there were so many kindred spirits on the web! YOU GO all o' us!

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.

Step 2: Bend It Like Beck--er, Me?

Bend the leads of the superbright LED up. Insert the LED into Laserbeak's head, with the LED lense pointing down. (The backspill from the LED will still be enough to make Laserbeak's eyes glow.)

Step 3: (Is Optional. Mostly)

(Optional: Using the Exacto knife carefully (carefully!) carve off the ridge around the base of the LED. This will give it a better fit in Laserbeak's head.)
Bend LED leads flush against Laserbeak's neck and clip them off.

Step 4: Solder and Insulate

Solder the leads to the wires. Wrap one of the wires with a small piece of tape as an insulator.

Step 5: Pickup Chicks!

Other uses for this flashlight:
1) Not ruining "the mood" at a swank Hallow's Eve party when you need to find your keys.
2) Cowtipping. 'Nuff said.
3) Catching chickens at night (apparently they can't see red light at all.)
4) Handy and attractive rear-view mirror dangle that doubles as a flashlight!
And finally,
5) Picking up chicks at Botcon!