356NFollowing the 356L is the 356N. The 356N wasn't limited in quantity like the previous 356L, but had far fewer participants at around 30 units total.
This was said to be due to the group buy date of the 356N being too close to that of the 356L. Therefore, not many people joined due to financial reasons and that makes the 356N the rarest OTD excluding prototypes and special editions.
And yes, the naming scheme is pretty much the same. The 356L is designed for use with Linear switches in mind, while the 356N is designed for Non Click (aka tactile) switches in mind.
You might be wondering how a board can be designed for a particular switch.
The designer Eungsam was very meticulous and prototyped every one of his boards multiple times (with his own money) until the boards were "perfect" by his high standards. Then provided those boards to the OTD community at almost no profit.
He used the same PCB material as that of OG Cherry boards (CEM-3) instead of the usual FR4 to replicate the feeling of OG Cherry boards into the 356N. Cherry PCBs are over 1.5T in thickness while the 356N's PCB is a very thin 1.2T to help the PCB flex more and allow for a better typing feel.
Eungsam also thought out the case design so there is space deliberately left over in the bottom of the case. This helps increase pleasant pinging sounds made by tactile switches. The 356N is also the first OTD (or first Kustom) to use a rubber band in between the PCB and plate to produce a "bouncy" typing feel while helping to reduce unpleasant sounds.
The main difference difference between the 356N and the 356N MK2, is the anodizing. Both have a "hairline" anodizing where you can see lines running across. However, the 356N has the "hairline" running vertically as opposed to the 356N MK2's horizontal "hairline".
Groupbuy Date: June~July, 2008
Layout: Winkey 87
Units Made: +- 30 (2 Chrome, Rest is Silver)
Colors Available: Silver, Chrome
Matching Wrist Rest: Yes
Controller: Holtec 628A
Types of Plates Available: Aluminum (Red), Polycarbonate Half
Engraving: No
Connection Type: PS2
Photo credits to:
OTD 스타도리 [Pic 1]
Random dude on google [Pic 2]
OTD 지제면민 [Pic 3]
OTD 이동진 [Pic 4]
OTD 이동진 [Pic 5]