Author Topic: How to go about recreating this 356CL Dark Grey Edition? (Read 2633 times)

jwaz · « **on:** Fri, 25 November 2011, 16:25:16 »

So I've been around on these forums for a while and nothing has quite caught my eye like this board:

356CL Dark Grady Edition
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=255
From what I understand of these boards they are pretty rare/ expensive even in Korea...

What I'd like to do is recreate the example in that Deskthority post, potentially as a kit but with doubleshot keys...

The Phantom kit group buy seems like a good learning opportunity and a fun project but I'm still not sure what to do about the machined base and where to find the keys I would need to achieve the color scheme (gray/ black). I'm thinking a good way to find some of the doubleshots would be on an old used cherry board? I put in an order for the doubleshot RGB group buy so i have those keys covered.

Any ideas or help for this project is appreciated as I am somewhat new to the enthusiast keyboard world and am on a budget...

DaemonRaccoon · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 25 November 2011, 20:26:28 »

The keys are either from a Dolch or the reproductions SP did for the Koreans (aka Geekhack's Doubleshot Group Buy Round 1). Going by the colours, legends, and sprue marks on the back; I'm going to say its the former on that particular board. The RGB keys are probably Dye-sublimated Cherry caps.

Oqsy · « **Reply #2 on:** Fri, 25 November 2011, 21:35:19 »

Def not SP. they got the font all wrong.

The Dolch caps have std cherry doubleshot legends. White on gray, and offset just as the ones in the OP link

SP "dolch" caps are a wimpier typeface, centered, and too big. Seeing how far off they were from the Dolch caps they were intended to replicate made me stay away from all SP group buys so far. As of now my only interest are Moogle kit replicas. Beware posts say that Round 1/3 are the same as Dolch.

DaemonRaccoon · « **Reply #3 on:** Fri, 25 November 2011, 22:32:22 »

You're right Oqsy, as I said in my previous post, the legends and sprue marks made me say they are genuine Dolch keys.

jwaz · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 26 November 2011, 21:04:47 »

So is my best option for the key caps to find an old Dolch? I'm assuming eBay is the best place to find one?

DaemonRaccoon · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 26 November 2011, 21:21:41 »

If you're on a budget, good luck. The Dolch PACs go for a healthy amount of money. This one is BIN $200.

Oqsy · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 26 November 2011, 21:38:53 »

I think a GB for a legit set of dolch reps is in order. These inferior designs are bugging me. Whats the story with SP and decent fonts? They aren't interested, or just playing hard to get?

A proper 101-104 key set and optional add-on modifier/space bar sets to make a universal kit should be easy enough to sort out if we can just get SP to use the right typeface, size, offset, and kerning. In other words, do it right as a full 104 key moogle kit.

Findecanor · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 26 November 2011, 21:45:49 »

The Dolch's keyboard does not have the standard 101 key layout. It has a more compact layout, most importantly a shorter right key.
In 7bit's key cap group order ROUND 4, there is a kit called CHERRYDOLCH -- with the missing keys when putting real Dolch keys on a standard keyboard. It includes a standard-sized right and the keys on the bottom row for keyboards with Windows keys, all made in the colour scheme and font as the Dolch's. There are also similar kits with modifiers in red, green and blue, almost as in the picture but with white legends.

However, what is missing in the CHERRYDOLCH kit are , and keys. On the Dolch's keyboard, they are in the same profile as the top row. Not a big deal, but a difference nonetheless.

Quote from: Oqsy;459414
A proper 101-104 key set and optional add-on modifier/space bar sets to make a universal kit should be easy enough to sort out if we can just get SP to use the right typeface, size, offset, and kerning.
From what I have heard, custom typefaces as typefaces are not possible with SP. Any key order with custom typefaces must have the text provided as images, which is much more expensive with them.

jwaz · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 26 November 2011, 21:46:05 »

A GB would be awesome, should we start an interest check?

Edit: ok, thanks for the info I'll hit up 7bit.

litster · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 26 November 2011, 21:46:26 »

That's a good idea. But we would need someone to build a set of SVG files and pay for the $10 per key setup fee.

Findecanor · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 26 November 2011, 22:07:26 »

My apologies, I should have mentioned more clearly that CHERRYDOLCH is just a type of "adapter set", with the extra few keys required to use real Dolch key caps on a board with a standard layout.

By the way, there is at least one vintage "laptop" out there which has Cherry MX-compatible key caps in almost the same colour scheme as Dolch. Unfortunately, I don't know which brand it was. I know only that it is not Toshiba -- because Toshiba laptops had ALPS.

jwaz · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 27 November 2011, 12:09:38 »

Ok well I suppose I'll start an interest check in recreating these caps. Hope there is enough interest as they are seriously one of the sexiest color combos around.

jwaz · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 27 November 2011, 12:18:28 »

These caps look awesome on that camo board!

jwaz · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 28 November 2011, 19:17:03 »

Interest check for Dolch replica double shot caps started, please hit it up so we can get a group buy going!

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?24351-Interest-Check-Dolch-key-caps-group-buy

News:

Author Topic: How to go about recreating this 356CL Dark Grey Edition? (Read 2633 times)