Project M

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Chyros

04 Dec 2017, 22:54

Just finished "Project M" - threw some nice keycaps onto my 1388032 (already a gorgeous-looking keyboard IMO). Wanted to share the result, I'm quite happy with it! :D You might even be able to recognise what keyboards the caps are off of ;) .

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mike52787
Alps Aficionado

04 Dec 2017, 22:59

Caps are from an IBM Wheelwriter typewriter, that I know. As for the blue keys... did you get your hands on a real indy ssk or are those unicomp? unicomp i'm sure.

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depletedvespene

04 Dec 2017, 23:04

I'm willing to bet the blue keys are non-Unicomp and they DO come from an industrial SSK.

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depletedvespene

04 Dec 2017, 23:06

Magnificent. The only missing thing is to procure a grey "Fine" key and replace the extant Esc cap with it. :-D

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Daniel Beardsmore

04 Dec 2017, 23:26

If only I had that much desk space … and had no need for the Windows keys …

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ideus

04 Dec 2017, 23:55

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: If only I had that much desk space … and had no need for the Windows keys …
Maybe your desk should "grow" to give space for such piece of keyboard history. I'd prefer a modern custom and programmable sixty anytime, but I can see the beauty behind a stock keyboard with custom applications.

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Daniel Beardsmore

04 Dec 2017, 23:58

I'll try watering it, that should do the trick.

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snuci
Vintage computer guy

05 Dec 2017, 00:10

The color on those blue keys is either off (they are actually too bright compared to the originals) or the overall picture colours are not right.

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wobbled

05 Dec 2017, 00:40

They look darker than the blue caps on my industrial ssk, so they're probably unicomps. Still extremely nice though.

Ibleic

05 Dec 2017, 04:20

The blue is so vivid! Great color contrasts across the board.

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Chyros

05 Dec 2017, 09:16

Mike is right, the main caps are from a Wheelwriter, and the blue ones are Unicomp reproductions. Indeed, they no longer do the original colour, but they did do the front legends, and I think they did a pretty good job anyway ^^ .

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Elrick

05 Dec 2017, 09:49

Beautiful Keyboard :mrgreen: .

Currently using the one I bought off Ellipse some months ago and took it, out of it's intact packaging box. The perfection with these older Model-M's that were made, just isn't exemplified today by anyone and that includes Unicomp.

The actual surface of these key-caps have a slight (PBT) texture but the dye-subs applied are pristine. It's true, these keyboards are unique and no matter what any other company claims, that their switches are like - Buckling Springs - means in real life, they're lying.

No other key-switch comes close to the sound and feel of these switches, only those using them will concur that reality.

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The_Boom_Boy

05 Dec 2017, 10:25

What a classic

andrewjoy

05 Dec 2017, 10:39

If only it was a model F :P

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depletedvespene

05 Dec 2017, 11:41

Chyros wrote: and the blue ones are Unicomp reproductions
Well, thank God I said "I'm willing to bet" instead of "I bet". :oops:

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Chyros

05 Dec 2017, 11:47

depletedvespene wrote:
Chyros wrote: and the blue ones are Unicomp reproductions
Well, thank God I said "I'm willing to bet" instead of "I bet". :oops:
Well, those keycaps are made by the same tooling as the original caps were, so really it's nitpicking xD . The biggest difference is the colour, which is darker on mine (and looks even darker in person).

The 1395682 is the only SSK I find interesting, precisely because its colour composition is so nice, so I figured those blue caps would also be a good fit with the 1388032, and the black badge, blue double-dyesub numpad caps and wheelwriter alphanumerics help it out as well.

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depletedvespene

05 Dec 2017, 12:00

Perhaps you should now get a full gray unprinted keycap set from Unicomp and put it on the keyboard. Ok, perhaps gray alphanums and blue mods (and a red Esc, to complete the set).

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derzemel

06 Dec 2017, 10:11

I go around drooling at Unsavers, G80-5000 etc., but, secretly, I always come back to the Model M 1388032. Mostly because it started production in the same year as I was born (1985) and I find it a bit poetic to have a still working machinery which is the same age as the user.

Anyway, your idea is pretty great and it looks very good.
One thing that bothers me a bit is the fact that Unicomp make those blue keycaps too dark. It's like they have a stock of that blue dye (or pbt pellets?) around and they cannot be bothered to change it (or mix it with white) until it runs out.
Last edited by derzemel on 06 Dec 2017, 11:47, edited 1 time in total.

andrewjoy

06 Dec 2017, 11:27

derzemel wrote: they cannot be bothered
This is unicomps company motto.

They have the licences for one of the best key switches ever made and they use borderline broken tooling and crap materials to make them.

Matias are not much better. Use the longer switch plate from older alps like greens etc and put the slits back in as they help with the wobble.

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fohat
Elder Messenger

06 Dec 2017, 13:55

derzemel wrote:
because it started production in the same year as I was born (1985)
My oldest keyboard was made the day before my 32nd birthday.

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DustGod
Yet another IBM snob

06 Dec 2017, 15:17

fohat wrote: My oldest keyboard was made the day before my 32nd birthday.
PLOT TWIST: fohat is 32 years old and only collects XMIT Hall Effect round 2 boards.

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