Odd light request... I need a light in 8 pieces.

[Grease]

So, I need a light that can be disassmbled into 8 parts, then put back together and turned on. My church is having a "lights" themed winter camp and wants to do a scavenger hunt type thing where groups of kids go hunting for people that have different parts of a flashlight. Once you get your light assembled and turned on, you win.

I've never tried to take apart any of my flashlights before, so I'm kind of at a loss here.

And the worst part is we need 40 of them, so they need to be cheap.

Anyone got any ideas? ("That's stupid and impossible, find a better game" is an acceptable answer.)


(Edit to add: My maglite is currently in 8 parts if you count the batteries, but I'm hoping to find something really dirt cheap and not have to spend close to a thousand bucks on a pile of maglites.)

 

[colekmiller11]

Did ya try the dollar store?

 

[Fanglekai]

You could add a piece of paracord for a lanyard and a bead, a ribbon, or something so you end up with enough pieces instead of 8 actual flashlight pieces.

 

[tjswarbrick]

How cheap?

Solarforce L2:

Bezel
Head
Lens
Reflector
Driver/Emitter sandwich
Spring
Body
Tailcap
Switch
2x Batteries
These run on CR123 lithium primary "camera" batteries. They're like $5/ea in stores, but can be found online for under $2.

Removing the switch, unscrewing the bezel (and removing the lens), and unscrewing the sandwich from the reflector are most readily accomplished with tools (needlenose; pliers.) I can usually do the bezel and reflector with my fingers (given enough time and a bit of grunting,) but kids won't be able to.
If you're set on 8 easily removed pieces, you can add an extender and a third battery.
Actually, that may be better - with the extender you could run on 2X AA batteries, if you get a 3V drop-in.
Starting at about $16 for a host: tail/body/head, and another $16 for a drop-in emitter package.

Nearly any "P60" host can be disasssembled to this level of components. You may find cheaper on DX or HKE, but (while it's no SureFire) I trust Solar-Force to light every time.
Sounds like a fun game to me! Give the lights away as prizes, or save them for the next campout.
Good luck.

Okay - I understand I'm WAY out of your prince range. There's another site manafont with hosts starting just under $6 and drop-ins starting just over that. Plus overseas shipping I'm sure. If that's still out of the budget I'd go to the dollar store or hardware store and see how many pieces their cheapest lights disassemble into.
Either way, I think it's a great idea for a scavenger hunt - except that on my daughter's last scavenger hunt we needed lights to navigate.

Since it's for a church, if you have a mom-n-pop hardware store or a chain that likes to be recognized for philanthropy, they may donate all or a portion. Wouldn't hurt to ask.
When I worked at HD 10 years ago it depended upon the manager on duty that night...

 

[Gollnick]

A typical cheapie 2xD flashlight as you might find at a "dollar store" consists of:
The body tube including a spring and the switch
The head
The reflector
The lense
The bulb
The bulb holder
Two D-cell batteries

Perfect.