This was a good article, and if I was a college student. I would totally do this (flashlights can be free at Harbor Frieght with coupon). But…figure I could do the same thing for $5-6 in parts withou having to disect a flashlight. I think I will just buy the parts.
http://hackaday.com/2016/03/08/turn-a-free-flashlight-into-led-strips/