[GB] Alps DCS Infinity modifier kit (Over)

[njbair]

Does anyone have a set of stock Matias caps to compare profiles against SP DCS? I'm curious how well the profiles will match.

Good idea. I'll wait until these arrive before selling my MQP, and take a few snappy snaps

I actually have a full set of Matias caps. I can probably lay out a row on their sides and take some caliper measurements. Then if someone can do something similar with any SP DCS set we can make comparisons that way.

[deci]

Oh damn it, I missed this Alps group buy

Well hopefully it turned out well so we can get some more alps key caps out there 

[E3E]

On no! Please tell me someone has a spare they'd be willing to sell! I really wanted to build an Infinity kit with some Alps!

[geniekid]

I bought 3 sets to support the GB but I'm probably not going to use all 3.  If BadWrench is okay with transferring orders I'd be willing to let 1-2 go at cost!  No wait.  That's insane.  Cost + 1 dollar.

EDIT:  The extra dollar to be Paypal gifted to Badwrench.

EDIT 2:  2 of my extra sets and 1 of my extra add-on sets have been transferred.  I have one more add-on set if anyone bought only the base set and now wants the flexibility of using these mods on a *standard* 60%.

EDIT 3:  My add-on set has been transferred.  All I have now is one base set and and one add-on and anyone who wants them can wrest them from my cold, dead hands.

[Badwrench]

I bought 3 sets to support the GB but I 'm probably not going to use all 3.  If BadWrench is okay with transferring orders I'd be willing to let 1-2 go at cost!  No wait.  That's insane.  Cost + 1 dollar.

EDIT:  The extra dollar to be Paypal gifted to Badwrench.

I have no problem transferring one of your sets geniekid.  PM me and I can let you know the details.   

[zombimuncha]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

[Badwrench]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

[njbair]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

Awesome news! Can't wait.

[scubaste]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

My bday is three days later. Sounds like a pretty dope bday present to myself. 

[Touch_It]

Yay!

[vivalarevolución]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

That's great to hear!

[sean]

Woooo!

[nubbinator]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

I hope you're ready for a nice Prairie sour, a nice Pretty Things Russian Imperial Stout, and an awesome local IPA.  I'm ready for a mini-sorting party.

[CPTBadAss]

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

SOMEONE INSERT THAT STEPHEN COLBERT GIF OF GIVE ME.

MY BODY (AND CAPS LOCK KEY) ARE READY FOR ALPS GOODNESS

[zombimuncha]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

Mmmmm - whatnot!

thx for the update bw!

[HoffmanMyster]

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

I hope you're ready for a nice Prairie sour, a nice Pretty Things Russian Imperial Stout, and an awesome local IPA.  I'm ready for a mini-sorting party.

Mmmmmmmm.

So when are you buying my plane ticket?   

[geniekid]

Next step...alphas?  A full Infinity set? 

[jdcarpe]

Next step...alphas?  A full Infinity set? 

Yes, once these ship...we need alphas.

[njbair]

How likely are these to match up reasonably well with the recent Massdrop full Alps sets? I think DCS is closer to Cherry profile, whereas the ones on Massdrop were OEM I think?

I also have some stock Matias caps which I'm hoping will work.

[zombimuncha]

DCS looks a fair bit lower than TaiHao

[Applet]

I'm in for Alphas 

[E3E]

Alphas A'hoy!

[njbair]

I would definitely buy alphas but I'm almost wondering if we should go for a full 60% set in a complementary color. More options that way.

[rsadek]

I'd also be in for alphas, a full Infiniti set and/or a 60%. Alps always has my support. 

[jdcarpe]

I would definitely buy alphas but I'm almost wondering if we should go for a full 60% set in a complementary color. More options that way.

Yes, this would be the smart way to go. It also allows people to join who weren't in on the modifier buy.

[zombimuncha]

I would definitely buy alphas but I'm almost wondering if we should go for a full 60% set in a complementary color. More options that way.

Yes, this would be the smart way to go. It also allows people to join who weren't in on the modifier buy.

yeah, there are a lot more V60's out there than V80's

edit: Hey, does anybody have a plan for what to do about stabilizer wires? I'm happy to buy some wire and a wire-bender tool for myself, but if there's an easier option I'm all ears. Or am I the only one planning on putting these on a keyboard with Alps stabs?

[jdcarpe]

edit: Hey, does anybody have a plan for what to do about stabilizer wires? I'm happy to buy some wire and a wire-bender tool for myself, but if there's an easier option I'm all ears. Or am I the only one planning on putting these on a keyboard with Alps stabs?

Matias should have some stabilizers for sale soon: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60268.msg1486047#msg1486047

[Applet]

I bought stabilizers from Matias some month ago (e-mailed them), don't know if it's the kind you need, but they work with my old Alps-plate and Matias type keycaps (MX-type stabilizer holes).

EDIT:
OH, I forgot to say yay for shipping estimate, YAY!

[E3E]

Sorry for my naivete, as I don't have any real Alps experience (though tons of enthusiastic hopes!). I have an Infinity in the mail. Will the stabilizer wire that comes with the board work off the bat with the stabilizer mounts in this set (MX mount)? I've got no qualms with wire bending myself. I like being resourceful and taking to DIY if I can't find another solution or if DIY is more cost-effective/practical for me.

[Touch_It]

I would definitely buy alphas but I'm almost wondering if we should go for a full 60% set in a complementary color. More options that way.

Yes, this would be the smart way to go. It also allows people to join who weren't in on the modifier buy.

yeah, there are a lot more V60's out there than V80's

edit: Hey, does anybody have a plan for what to do about stabilizer wires? I'm happy to buy some wire and a wire-bender tool for myself, but if there's an easier option I'm all ears. Or am I the only one planning on putting these on a keyboard with Alps stabs?

What jdcarpe said is probably the solution.  I'm putting these on a Dell at101w and decided I'd yolo a solution when they are in my possession.  I'm definitely a hands on learner.

[zombimuncha]

I bought stabilizers from Matias some month ago (e-mailed them), don't know if it's the kind you need, but they work with my old Alps-plate and Matias type keycaps (MX-type stabilizer holes).

EDIT:
OH, I forgot to say yay for shipping estimate, YAY!

Matias (and KBP) use Alps-style stabs (on both plate and keycap-mount) for all keys except spacebar. It sounds like the balance-bars you got are probably the right thing but your suggestion that Matias uses MX style keycaps is making me doubt...

[Applet]

I bought stabilizers from Matias some month ago (e-mailed them), don't know if it's the kind you need, but they work with my old Alps-plate and Matias type keycaps (MX-type stabilizer holes).

EDIT:
OH, I forgot to say yay for shipping estimate, YAY!

Matias (and KBP) use Alps-style stabs (on both plate and keycap-mount) for all keys except spacebar. It sounds like the balance-bars you got are probably the right thing but your suggestion that Matias uses MX style keycaps is making me doubt...

Yes, you are right (had to remove the cap and check). It is indeed apls-style, have mx-style on the spacebar, hence my confusion (only have two stabilized keys). Sorry about that.

[Badwrench]

Sorry for my naivete, as I don't have any real Alps experience (though tons of enthusiastic hopes!). I have an Infinity in the mail. Will the stabilizer wire that comes with the board work off the bat with the stabilizer mounts in this set (MX mount)? I've got no qualms with wire bending myself. I like being resourceful and taking to DIY if I can't find another solution or if DIY is more cost-effective/practical for me.

You should be good to go right away - no tinkering required.  This set is primarily designed for the Infinity board with other applications being possible with figuring out your specific stabilizer (ie: Matias wires or making your own). 

[njbair]

Regarding stabs, SP uses cherry stab mounts even on their Alps caps.

[CPTBadAss]

edit: Hey, does anybody have a plan for what to do about stabilizer wires? I'm happy to buy some wire and a wire-bender tool for myself, but if there's an easier option I'm all ears. Or am I the only one planning on putting these on a keyboard with Alps stabs?

Matias should have some stabilizers for sale soon: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60268.msg1486047#msg1486047

So Matias now has caps and stabs for sale on the or website. So my thinking is that stabs will work in one of two ways.

1) Use Matias stabs straight up
2) Use a combo of costar inserts and Matias stabilizer wire and housing but not the Matias inserts. The Costar inserts can be bought from WASDKeyboards I think.

I've not been able to test which of these methods works yet though

[Pdub]

Any update?

[CPTBadAss]

Any update?

Is there an updated ETA on shipping?
PMK site says Modern Selectric has a production delay something to do with it being SA, which this is not. So are we now before or after Modern Selectric?

I received an email from SP today:  Rough shipping date from them to me is 8/27.  Well within the 4-6 week lead time.  I will turn these around asap and will post tons of pictures and whatnot 

Still not 8/27 and SP probably won't ship early. I'm guessing were still waiting per the last update.

[njbair]

As discussed above and with Badwrench's blessing, I've posted an interest check for a full 60% Alps set.

[zombimuncha]

so... photos on Monday, Badwrench?

I took a closer look at the keycap profile photo I posted above (thx Jacobolus!) and it looks like most of the apparent difference in height between TaiHao and DCS is at the bottom edge of the keycap. The height from switch top to keycap top is very close to the same. So now I'm thinking these will work quite nicely on all the TaiHao-clad v80's and v60's out there.

[Badwrench]

Ok guys.  Good news and bad news.  Caps are here.  Unfortunately the font they used was exactly like the mockups.  I have already messaged SP but I don't expect to hear back from them until Monday. 

The color is exactly how I pictured it, but the hard left capitalized fonts just bug me. 

 





I'm sorry guys.  I feel like I have let everyone down on this.  I have gone back on my emails with SP and the font was originally talked about in the first emails, but after that, it was just the small changes we kept making to dial in the set.  Even the invoice has no mention of font, and I totally missed that (however it also has no mention of using the mockup font either).  I will talk with SP on Monday and see what can be done to fix this.  Again, I am super sorry - I didn't even want to post any pictures or even turn on GH.   

[nubbinator]

I know it was SP's mistake since it was supposed to be Cherry fonts and it does look wonky, but I could definitely live with the set if SP refuses to make things right.

[Badwrench]

I know it was SP's mistake since it was supposed to be Cherry fonts and it does look wonky, but I could definitely live with the set if SP refuses to make things right.

Thanks for the kind words.  I am so bummed about it and not being able to contact anyone at SP until Monday has my anxiety pegged out. 

[scubaste]

I can live with it. I think the color looks great. Is that paired with AT101w alphas?

[Badwrench]

I can live with it. I think the color looks great. Is that paired with AT101w alphas?

Yeah, I am really happy with the color.  Alphas are from a chicony.

[kennardsmith]

omg the color is so good

[njbair]

The color is awesome. And I'm okay with the legends either way. I honestly never thought that hard about legends to begin with.

[E3E]

The color is awesome. And I'm okay with the legends either way. I honestly never thought that hard about legends to begin with.

Seconded. I just think this set is really cool in general, and a wonderful step forward to having more Alps sets produced! I will be rocking this on my Infinity with pride. I don't mind the legends at all. When Alpine Winter happens, these will definitely be mixed in!

It's totally on SP's fault though that the legends were not Cherry, but it's okay! Maybe they will remedy the issue, but if not, I do like the set as is.

[ninjadoc]

I know it was SP's mistake since it was supposed to be Cherry fonts and it does look wonky, but I could definitely live with the set if SP refuses to make things right.

Thanks for the kind words.  I am so bummed about it and not being able to contact anyone at SP until Monday has my anxiety pegged out. 

In all honesty I can live with it. I'm happy to just get a set of modifierss that I'm not taking from two or three boards to get a decent color match. Most alps boards I've dug out of an ecycler have "big ass enter" and there goes the mods.....

[sean]

I actually like the look of the legends, and I can't say they're any worse/better than cherry. I really hope you aren't still feeling bad about it, you've done a huge service for so many of us. I bet if you sent out the caps as they are now almost all of us wouldn't even know the legends were different, and the ones that would have noticed probably wouldn't mind. Out of all the things that could have gone wrong, this is very minor. 

[zombimuncha]

Looks great. Font schmont.