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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => DIY Discussions ARCHIVE => Topic started by: justin on Fri, 28 August 2009, 00:49:48

Title: Das Stormtrooper Model M
Post by: justin on Fri, 28 August 2009, 00:49:48: This is my first attempt at a keyboard mod, or any real computer mod, for that matter… I had an extra 1391401 Model M laying around, and the Model M I had at my white iMac was looking very beige, and clashed pretty badly with it.

I decided on blank black keys, because I fell in love with them after seeing the HHKB & Das Keyboard. The white case matches my white Apple stuff, particularly the white iMac.

It's not perfect, but the legendless matte black keys are pretty sweet. I'd like to try using vinyl dye, if I can find some, next time.
Forgive the crappy pix due to poor room lighting, maybe I'll try shooting it outside tomorrow.

(http://justinlowery.com/images/m1.jpg)
(http://justinlowery.com/images/m2.jpg)
(http://justinlowery.com/images/m3.jpg)
Title: Das Stormtrooper Model M
Post by: clickclack on Fri, 28 August 2009, 02:29:01: neato! So where is its blaster rifle? I like it, but what did you use? Spray paint I assume?
I could be blind but I don't think you mentioned it anywhere.
Title: Das Stormtrooper Model M
Post by: timw4mail on Fri, 28 August 2009, 06:02:52: Nice old-style Apple logo.
Title: Das Stormtrooper Model M
Post by: justin on Fri, 28 August 2009, 13:16:10: Yeah, I used spraypaint made for plastics. My only complaints would be that some of the keys stick b/c of friction from the paint rubbing on adjacent keys or on the shafts in the larger keys like the spacebar, enter and shift keys. I'm not sure if black vinyl dye would have covered all the labels and given it a matte finish though. And do they even make white dye? That would be hard to picture.
Title: Das Stormtrooper Model M
Post by: kode on Fri, 28 August 2009, 13:41:04: Yeah, I'm seriously considering ordering a set of blank keycaps myself. I will have to get a quote from them, but considering they spent $26.13 in postage to send me 4 springs, it feels like the least I could do...

I like the mod. :)
Title: Das Stormtrooper Model M
Post by: kode on Fri, 28 August 2009, 14:58:34: Yeah, incredibly nice of them. It feels like there could've been some way to get lower postage than that, though.