Regardless of what it is or isn’t, and I still stand by it not being the arcolectric light, it’s a waste of a very rare light, were you to go that route for a replica, to use it in such a manner. And, yes, I do have one. Several, in fact, as stated above in a previous post. I still stand by my assertion that just because it looks like a duck, doesn’t mean it quacks like a duck, or is a duck. It could be a plethora of things that fit that diameter, as 3/8" isn’t exactly an odd size.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter what the light is, as I stated earlier, as no one in their right mind would use an original light in such a manner, and the replicas won’t create the proper look. If in fact it’s ever proven that it is an arcolectric hat light, it’d just get lumped into that ‘useless and pointless information that no one actually cares about’ pile, that, while not massive, does exist. Just go with this modern light cover. It recreates the look better, and is a heck of a lot cheaper/easier to find.
lumped into that ‘useless and pointless information that no one actually cares about’ pile…there are people that care, and if there weren’t then Joe wouldn’t have bothered to look for an alternative, you wouldn’t have bothered to look for or organize a group order of the nearly identical in shape APEM lights…that argument essentially means that the every detail is useless and pointless beyond a passing resemblance to the prop in question.
At any rate, there are high res photos in which the internal bits can be seen as identical to the hat light, you can even see it on the PH photos in the reference section.
The APEM light and the Arcolectric lights are nearly identical, but the APEM has more straight sides while the Arcolectric is 0.3725" at the top and 0.3955" just before it really flares out. Here’s a pic comparing them.
As for it installing in the proper material, it fits exactly as the ones we can see on the hero guns. Here are pics of one in a 3/8" hole. Note that I didn’t jam it in as far as I could have, cause I didn’t want it to be too hard to get back out. Also mu hole was drilled on a mill so a drill press may mean a slightly larger hole depending on the play in the spindle, which would allow it to be pushed through further with less effort. Notice how (though a little harder to see in the semitransparent orange) you can see the lighter ring of the internal metal part just the same as on the hero gun.
As for cost vs a waste to stick one inside…the logic doesn’t really fly given it could be considered a waste to buy any real light or replica even if in full view, when there are always cheaper options. The one link mentioned is 4 accurate castings for $7 shipped, which covers putting either a white or orange one in that place as well as the two visible hat lights, so I’d bet they’re probably cheaper. The accuracy as far as them not being hollow, yes, they don’t have the same visual look as the hero guns and as such the ones Joe found are great substitutes…that being said, they are no more visually inaccurate than using transparent orange or red ones in place of the opaque orange ones.
This topic has gone off course, and Joe has offered up a great alternative, which I doubt anyone here is contesting. The derail was to give additional information and option for those who might want to use the accurate hat lights.
Just as a public apology, I have nothing against Chris at all and didn’t mean any of what I said to come across as attacking or anything…it’s been a bad weekend so I am a little less cordial than my otherwise probably less than cordial self.
The only thing I would offer is that I felt that the solid cast replica is less visually accurate that the alternative I used, mainly due to the visible ring caused by the hollow casting.
But if anyone has a lead on where to get the real deal… feel free to let me know…!
No need to appogize at all, John. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I certainly didn’t take anything you said as an attack. If anything, I feel I should appologize again for helping to thoroughly derail the topic.
I know your right Matt and i will back up your claim As you could see on my wand, im using the accurate Arcolectric caps and the diamater of the top of the cap is exactly the same on the gun ear and top just like the hero gun.
I saw the transparent orange caps at Skycraft. Only problem is they had 3 that I could find. All 3 of them broken in half because the clear plastic is more brittle.
And the lady told me I probably won’t find any more of the orange caps since someone went there and bought like 200 of them. Or whatever they had left, and are probably being resold as pack parts.
So now Skycraft has a TON of the sockets, and no orange caps to go with them. I had to get the one from their display box, which has a 2 printed on the face
I used to find these lights at a surplus store near by, if people here needed them for their packs, I’d get a few and ship them out at cost. They went for .75 used and $1.25 new for the socket and cap.
I’m actually getting concerned that the APEM light might have been discontinued, as well. All of the suppliers I looked at when I did my run no longer stock them. They don’t even have them in their catalogues anymore.
and i will back up your claim 
