[GB] GMK Blue Alert R2 [IN PRODUCTION]

[LightningXI]

GMK Blue Alert R2
A classic colorway variant in beige and blue.

GB OPEN: SEPTEMBER 6 - SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

estimated delivery: end Q4 2024 - early Q1 2025.

Vendors and Pricing

United States: Novelkeys Canada: DeskHero Europe: Oblotzky Industries United Kingdom: ProtoTypist Southeast Asia: iLumKB China: zFrontier South Korea: GEONWORKS Oceania: Daily Clack

Background

Hello friends from Geekhack and the keyboard community !

GMK Blue Alert is a keyset that was originally conceived as a spin off from the GMK Olivetti set, run by
Originative in 2013. In 2017, community member cmd enabled its singular pre-order through Originative,
with colors changed to the classic beige colors -- U9/L9 -- and V4 blue legends. Though once a niche
among enthusiasts, recent interest in "Alert"-styled sets (e.g. DCS Rebel / GMK Red Alert and their
 derivatives) prompted a renewed interest in this keycap set.

Its original runner, cmd, hoped to rerun the set, but has since passed on the torch to me to accomplish this
 with renewed styling and kitting choices, while keeping a few legacy items that preserve a distinguished
 detail from its prior run. Though there have been other sets that assimilate this hopeful "boring classic",
 I think none carry all of the features I wanted to see from a new release.

Original styling of the R1 set utilized classic Cherry icon-only modifiers with limited winkeyless compatibility
for Row 5 (a.k.a. R5, or row A for others) bottom-row layouts. This new run will feature extended Row 5
bottom-row support, a new Hangul sublegend kit (a community request made since my prior keyset run, Dolch R5),
and a Blue Stripe kit -- to give the set its Rebel / Alert characteristic -- a number-row stripe accent with support
including the navigation cluster and numpad.

Without further ado, here are the features and kitting of the set, for which I have given deep consideration
to accommodate the community's needs and requests. Kitting is close to final, but comments are welcome.


Features

  - Cherry profile, ABS plastic, doubleshot keycaps manufactured by GMK in Germany.
  - Alphas: L9 cream base, V4 blue legends.
  - Modifiers: U9 beige base, V4 blue legends.
  - Accents: V4 blue base, U9 beige legends (Esc/Enter/Joker/Cherry).
  - Blue Stripe: V4 blue base, L9 cream legends (for increased contrast).
  - OG Cherry-style Icon-Text modifiers.
  - Complete R5 bottom row support.
  - Windows 95 icons - a condition from cmd in making this possible. (cmd: shoutout to nickheller)

Kits

Base
Coverage for most layouts, 4-key 40s w/ accents, US-ISO, Alice / split-bars, F13.



Extension
Extras, windowed keys, legacy-style novelties, OS-agnostic Super keys, and spacebars.



Hangul
Korean sublegend kit, usable with legacy R1 set.



Blue Stripe
Accent blue stripe for num-row placement.



International



Renders
Many thanks to Steven, a.k.a. FreshFromTheGrave for the amazing work.

More

Classic TKL by NovelKeys





F1-8X by Geonworks



No. 2/65 by Keycult



Seis Cero by Daji Keyboards



Type K by gok



ASCII-F by enomooshiki

Historic Renditions by Kustom3



Banderole / Packaging
Thank you to Vheissu and LampKB for rapid, fun work on this banderole design.
Subject to small changes and modifications.

THANK YOU

Ragan of Space Cables, for kickstarting this project and overall support at the inception. Mike, Riley, and the rest of the NovelKeys team, for taking on this project despite being yet another "boring beige" set. And for pushing the Hangul kit forward. To the Lightningcord community for feedback, and for keeping the hope and hype for this set alive despite the few years we got stuck in limbo. To cmd for the blessing to run this set and for his mutual enthusiasm of the Win95 logo. To Steven, a.k.a. FreshFromTheGrave, for the keyboard and kit renders and extra graphics. To Vheissu and LampKB for their design expertise and help in creating the amazing banderole. To damonskv and zyxxke for their assist in having an improved vintage-styled Cherry icon. To the vendors and collaborators who make this group-buy and re-run possible.

If you want to support on Geekhack, consider adding the signature below to your profile:

Code: [Select]

[url=https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=123485.0][img width=516 height=120]https://i.imgur.com/2z8e7Pi.png[/img][/url]

Feel free to join my Discord server for occasional pings and updates with the bluealert role.

Thanks for looking, and hope that you will consider supporting this set!

[LightningXI]

Collaborations

Accessories
none at the moment.

Artisans
tentative and subject to change

BG Caps Bogan Caps Hello / goodbye caps KUG Caps Latrialum LAZERCAPS Maison of the West MFC Omniclectic Raw Studio Rubrehose Save Caps Sodie Caps Zearoh

Completed Collabs

Ahnuiya Alheckz Alpha Keycaps Anomaly Caps Apothecary Caps Artkey Azi Keycaps BKM Caps Black Mage Caps CYSM Dalifu Caps Emotikeys Goldenstar Keycap (GSK) Inkblot Caps Krakenkap Level Caps Mastonon Kaps Noah Myth Caps Primecaps Ritual Master Sandunart Sonder Caps Stupid Fruit Caps T-Lab TRMK Caps Unknown Keycaps Wheatkeys Wild Keycaps

Artisan keycap makers -- please feel free to message via GH, Discord (lightningxi)
or via IG (@lightningkeyboards) if you'd be interested in creating keycaps to go with the set!

Done - Artisan Raffles

More

ArtKey
2024/9/12 10pm ET


Sonder Caps
2024/9/14 10:30pm ET


Ritual Master Keycaps
2024/9/23


Alpha Keycaps
2024/9/24


Wheatkeys
2024/9/25


Azi Keycaps
2024/9/26


Levelcaps
2024/10/6


Alheckz
2024/10/8


Inkblot Caps
2024/10/10


Ahnuiya
2024/10/13


GSK
2024/10/19, 2024/10/20




Stupid Fruit
2024/10/20


Unknown Keycaps
2024/11/7-8


Mastonon Kaps
2024/11/17



T-Lab Studio
2024/11/19



Primecaps
2024/11/21


CYSM
2024/11/22


Apothecary Caps
2024/11/24


Black Mage Caps
2024/11/24


Myth Caps
2024/11/25


Dalifu Caps
2024/11/29


TRMK
2024/11/30


Anomaly Caps
2024/12/3


Noah
2024/12/7

2025/01/16


Wild Keycaps
2024/12/13


BKM Caps
2025/01/09


Emotikeys
2025/01/09


Sandunart
2025/01/17


Krakenkap
2025/01/17

[HoffmanMyster]

Approved

[mr_foggy]

LESSGOOO thanks for running this. in for all kits as mentioned in the IC.

[Udyrstruidor]

Blue Alert is finally back!

[packman86]

Great kitting! GLWGB!

[ZavaZ86]

Blå Alert 

[whirlwind]

Amazing set, amazing runner, let’s go!

[Special K]

Do the set creators have to pay a licensing fee to Microsoft to use the logo?

[LightningXI]

Upon request from the IC -- a Pause/Break key has been added to the Blue Stripe (with no changes to the kit pricing)!

Render in OP has been updated.

[LightningXI]

Do the set creators have to pay a licensing fee to Microsoft to use the logo?

Not that I am aware for something as old as the Win95 key. That said, the usage of the Windows logo on keyboards has been quite common for many years over many, many products past these keycap sets.

[Rob27shred]

So clean, gonna be securing my set next week for sure! GLWGB Diego!

[IBMweMissU]

wow, did nobody ask for an R1 "=" in NumPad for this enthusiast set?

[LightningXI]

First Blue Alert artisan collab raffle happening in 10.5~11 hours with ArtKey

https://artkeyuniverse.com/shop/detail/bsod

[LightningXI]

Sonder Caps brings our second collab sale with the Bird Brainz sculpt in the Blueprint colorway to match the set!

Sale is open now.

https://forms.gle/byEneQSACjVY4HqT9

https://imgur.com/a/d8qfRuk

[AMZ]

How is the numbers so far? did hit the MOQ

[LightningXI]

How is the numbers so far? did hit the MOQ

I have not gotten updated numbers from all vendors, but from what I am aware thus far, MOQ will not be an issue for most/all kits -- maybe except for International -- of that one, I am not sure if we will.

I would recommend people on the fence about the Hangul kit pick it up as that one is also a little low.

[LightningXI]

Ritual Master has a raffle open for a Blue Alert-themed Watcher keycap -- check it out.

Raffle form

[LightningXI]

Alpha Keycaps has released a Devoura sculpt for Blue Alert!

Form open for 24 hours and the payment window is 24 hours.

Link : https://forms.gle/EyxC8w4WssKxe88W8

[LightningXI]

Wheatkeys has made some cool Pine Blanks to go with Blue Alert! Check it out:
Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSVlrK_wFnBxewzkHzvyFzPSHQVn3o4Y0VIsxP7gn6V4MA_Q/viewform



----

Last 2.5 days of Blue Alert GB!

[LightningXI]

LAST DAY FOR BLUE ALERT R2!!

(if you happen to be waiting for a month-end paycheck to come in to get in the set, NovelKeys and ProtoTypist will keep their orders silently open until the 30th)
----

Aside, Azi Keycaps is holding their raffle for a Barkey to go with the set -- check it out!
Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxzqPXA3-GyNo4lv01VVm91RjbFt39MBJ20mnjsFguzjPnGw/viewform

[LightningXI]

GB is closed. This set did quite well!! Thank you all for your support. It really means a lot to see this set make it to MOQ organically.

All kits will be made -- will keep this thread posted on subsequent artisan collab raffles, as well as other updates relating to group-buy progression!

[LightningXI]

Level Caps is holding their raffle for Blue Alert-themed sculpts

Check it out below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjHnYSo1X-XuIkPuIEROI6wYmbAvUQ7f9Wuk8NxHxXNIGgPQ/viewform

[LightningXI]

Alheckz has a very kind message to Blue Alert R2 supporters out there.

Check out the caps:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecrJS3YdRJFKhzYptH2oJYcTu6iFLfYXs0dPSDOgTlB4EPVw/viewform

[LightningXI]

Huge apologies - things got a little busy yesterday and I did not manage to post this raffle - it ended recently but wanted to post here so it is documented:

by Inkblot Caps

[LightningXI]

Check out Ahnuiya's Year of the Dragon Blue Alert collab keycaps! In stock right now: https://ahnuiya.bigcartel.com/product/yotd-gmk-blue-alert-r2

[LightningXI]

Goldenstar Keycap (GSK) is having their Napicorn collaboration sale for Blue Alert

Raffle: https://forms.gle/RjmBoDGnvEfbAXVH7

[dvorcol]

More

<-- without extras



Edit: fixed legend error in history graph

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

Swap extensions and stripe text on your graph

Glad to see these making a comeback; thanks dvorcol.

[LightningXI]

Goldenstar Keycap (GSK) is having their Bro Caps collaboration sculpt sale for Blue Alert

Raffle: https://forms.gle/DFBbMq6EzGW93qXi8

[LightningXI]

pears / Stupid Fruit Caps is having a small and inexpensive sale for Blue Alert
Check it out =)

Raffle: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqjjNqjDWAoB6VgOmSwuk2KFu44QoKItPtmASq38JZ7uusCw/viewform

[LightningXI]

Goldenstar Keycap (GSK) is having their HWS Hungercorn collaboration sculpt sale for Blue Alert

Raffle: https://forms.gle/n2pDV2UaYo9nPZHM8

[twitchytheinsideman]

Do you have sales numbers for BA R2?

I'd love to see a dvorcol graph.

[LightningXI]

Do you have sales numbers for BA R2?

I'd love to see a dvorcol graph.

You could try scrolling up like 2 posts

[twitchytheinsideman]

Do you have sales numbers for BA R2?

I'd love to see a dvorcol graph.

You could try scrolling up like 2 posts

HA. Meant to ask a while back and only ever saw raffle posts. Missed that one. 

Glad it surpassed MOQ by 7-fold though 

[LightningXI]

If you missed out on Blue Alert, NovelKeys now has them up for pre-order in case you would like to secure a set long before they arrive.

Order from NK here

[LightningXI]

Sorry for the delayed post. Unknown Keycaps is having their collaboration sale for Blue Alert. It should be ending soon, so enter now if you're interested.

Raffle: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch1Rb4F7oXK6rtkZA4nYVCYyUNMcXLLdSRuN7nmTZgwaS2ng/viewform

[LightningXI]

Sorry for missing posts here for two past sales (Mastonon, T-Lab).

Primecaps is currently having their Lurv U2 sale for Blue Alert.

Raffle link: https://forms.gle/NNXYVL35XNrCpvxm6

[LightningXI]

CYSM is running their collab sale for Blue Alert

Raffle: https://forms.gle/7pcg71jpiYtVEhD1A

[LightningXI]

The T-Lab is running a Blue Alert collab --

Raffle form: https://www.tlab.studio/raffleform

[LightningXI]

Wanted to share a cool photo edit done by Mr. Kustom3, featuring Mr. Bill Gates and the PlaketXL by Flatbrains with Blue Alert. A fantastic floppy throw and a throwback to Windows 1.0.

[LightningXI]

Apothecary Caps is having their sale for a Gateway to Blue Alert:



Form link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TvzM9JYL9zu2IvQpRbBqo7JJ_B6ZLvyO5cNxu1hX3HQ/viewform

[LightningXI]

Aaand we got Myth Caps down with the cuteness --



Raffle form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvv-pJxGwcmq-wZzVBfFAXOinypGdFwbg5OV9pMv0bqYfvXQ/viewform

[LightningXI]

Dalifu Caps is having their Blue Alert sale for Frank v2, Frank v2 (sp.), and Dali.



Raffle form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer-SyceDrJ_PncBQq_FOuj0cugkUK8fUKQfLpIQ8RCL4UJug/viewform

[Fraaaan]

A few more collabs and you'll be able to fill your entire alphas with artisans.

[LightningXI]

A few more collabs and you'll be able to fill your entire alphas with artisans.

Haha, whoever gets all of these could astound us a bit doing that. I can't enter everything but I am grateful for the ones generously shared

[LightningXI]

Anomaly Caps is having their Blue Alert themed sale

Raffle form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKBR0RXQQ_bpZmyNO07_T95QXbc6am_3MWbtmFOTEq_u9g7A/viewform

[LightningXI]

Noah (nclootart) has joined in to create a cool collab piece with his new sculpt, Slain.

Check it out below.

Raffle form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8xYAN2hUijI8OWcygspTHE15raZHZoNnFn0Wqd2Qhe41wAQ/viewform

[LightningXI]

Wild Keycaps is holding a sale for Blue Alert-themed caps.
Form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtmWLmpmyNW1wxax1fv0DtybavQ4Qa9Nn6zGnLVn_T5Btz9A/viewform

[LightningXI]

QUICK STATUS UPDATE:

Set is currently in production and likely to be completed this month, with hopeful shipping to customers by the end of the month.

We'll get to see them out there pretty soon! Very exciting.