Depending on how polished a result you want and what level of soldering/etc. experience you have, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few months.
Zero experience
. Anyway I'm holding in buy a mech keyb for more than a year now, thinking that somebody will made something closer.
I take a look at the
TS65 Project and it look cool, but is far away the MS keyb. I'm unsure about go with a crazy design like this or the ErgoDock or KeyboardIO, because I'm in Colombia and don't have a way to test in person or easy way to return it. Mainly about minimizing unfamiliarity anyway... (However I tempted by the idea of
http://keymouse.com and suspect a split keyboard could be re-configured as mouse too)...
Specially, I don't like the current trend of mini-keybs/60% or similar that is so hot! right know. Even lose the numpad feel bad to me (I have use the Apple keybs and hate that. But the Sculp have it separate so is ok).
I have found
http://atreus.technomancy.us/ and its look closer (equally with the Truly Ergo Key) instead is flat and not curved (and it need FN to acces vital keys for programing, that is deal breaker for me).
------
Buy a commercial one is also a option. I have thinking in the keymouse (if go crazy, go full - But the project have run forever with not clear date to ship-), the Truly Ergo have bad reviews, the KeyboardIO look good but also need FN for vital characters, the Matias could be fine, but I'm unsure is great enough. Damm, I'm truly spoiled by my familiarity with the MS keyb!
------
Ok, returning to the idea. Convert to mech a MS keyboard look harder than I have tough. As I understand, I need to create one:
1- a PBC
2- MX switches
3- Keycaps
4- Controller
5- Soldering (probably ask a friend for this)
6- The body
7- Luck!
I think the only "unconventional" aspect of this project related to the ones I see here on in massdrop is that this keyb is curved at the top (and have full size).
I could find the way to recreated the curved top with a local that have the way for it, but wonder if is possible to get pre-made the bottom (PBC, Controller, switches connectors), add the keycaps and assemble.