good luck with caps.. also would need a different plate for the stabs
I thought about that, Alps stabs would be a no-go and the only usable caps would be something DCS or DSA. As for the larger keys, those enabler PCBs with MX stabilizers might work. Still too many compromises...
That's not true, there are many ways to create a cap set that would fit the 1800 layout. You'd just need to design the plate for it, get it lasergist'd, and you'd be good to go. For a simple route, you could use Tai Hao caps.
Most focus boards would have the caps you'd need, then you'd get an Omnikey in ANSI for the ANSI enter.
Some of the early Leeku MX 1800 PCBs were MX + Alps.
You could also use MX PCB stabs if you designed the plate for it and had the appropriate caps. I just used an Acer 6011 plate that I modified myself to have slots for MX stabs when I built my Leeku 3000 NCR with Alps.
The caps I used, the Tai Hao FAME TH-5539 Cherry-profile doubleshot caps, would almost entirely cover the 1800 layout except for a few minor things. I had to use OG Cherry doubleshots to get the ANSI layout for the G80, but yeah.
I think it'd be fun.
I just built up an MX1800 for someone too. I was thinking of how neat it'd be if it were Alps. The 1800 layout isn't really my thing, but it would still be cool.