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Tappity tappity Steampunk Keyboard.
Sep. 18th, 2008 11:18 pmOK, so you've seen the Von Slatt masterpiece and Datamancer's beautiful variants on the theme of keyboards. There are other other versions too, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mbarrick has made a version out of a considerably cheaper keyboard. Given I too am on a budget this is the plan I've followed.
I have however made a truckload of mistakes, so you don't have to. I've got through three keyboards making this mod. breaking off the sockets for the keys seemed like a good idea, but as I ended up disliking the paintjob on the first one (and the PS/2 cable broke) I got a new board and started that bit again. As its a cheap £5 job from Maplin its not going to break the bank any time so no worries there.
The keys are already done so all I have to do is decorate the fascia. I picked up a smaller version of the flower button for the second enter key. The typeface is Baskerville Oldface. I thought about using roman numerals for the function keys like many before me, but its nice to be different sometimes. Plus I like the look of the cursive f's.
The album that provided the green leather for the bays on the PC had a large area of dark tan leather, which shops up nicely into sections to line the tray. As you can see the cutting out is not perfect, but nothing is stuck down and I'll go round the bits that show with some gouache so they aren't visible. Electrical tape is wrapped around the flex (If I ever get hold of mylar braided sleeving this will go over the top.) In the best tradition of Blue Peter I've still got masses of sticky-backed plastic, so that goes on the back and top. Some very small brass angle goes around the space bar.
More Fablon on the back, and metallic enamel paint...
The keys go in and some more brass angle goes on at the top. Black buttons with crystals in are the power/sleep/wake keys in the right-hand corner, and those plastic domes you stick on things are used to cover the LEDs. (I filed off the mirrored backs so the light shines through.)
A shot with all the LEDs lit. I'm contemplating replacing the black crystal buttons with ones with brass, but for now I think its job well done. I still have plenty of brass angle left, so I might put some around the top of the function key trays, and take the edging down to meet the painted brass bit. I know the paint looks a bit scuffed, but I like the fact that it looks a bit used, as if this is a real antique and has seen some use. Maybe the owner took it home from the office after they brought in these nasty new white boxes?
mbarrick has made a version out of a considerably cheaper keyboard. Given I too am on a budget this is the plan I've followed.I have however made a truckload of mistakes, so you don't have to. I've got through three keyboards making this mod. breaking off the sockets for the keys seemed like a good idea, but as I ended up disliking the paintjob on the first one (and the PS/2 cable broke) I got a new board and started that bit again. As its a cheap £5 job from Maplin its not going to break the bank any time so no worries there.
The keys are already done so all I have to do is decorate the fascia. I picked up a smaller version of the flower button for the second enter key. The typeface is Baskerville Oldface. I thought about using roman numerals for the function keys like many before me, but its nice to be different sometimes. Plus I like the look of the cursive f's.
The album that provided the green leather for the bays on the PC had a large area of dark tan leather, which shops up nicely into sections to line the tray. As you can see the cutting out is not perfect, but nothing is stuck down and I'll go round the bits that show with some gouache so they aren't visible. Electrical tape is wrapped around the flex (If I ever get hold of mylar braided sleeving this will go over the top.) In the best tradition of Blue Peter I've still got masses of sticky-backed plastic, so that goes on the back and top. Some very small brass angle goes around the space bar.
More Fablon on the back, and metallic enamel paint...
The keys go in and some more brass angle goes on at the top. Black buttons with crystals in are the power/sleep/wake keys in the right-hand corner, and those plastic domes you stick on things are used to cover the LEDs. (I filed off the mirrored backs so the light shines through.)
I put the flower buttons into larger buttons to give them the same look as the other keys, and replaced the totally unsuitable windows logo with some nice flowery arrows. (I think they're from winddings or something).
A shot with all the LEDs lit. I'm contemplating replacing the black crystal buttons with ones with brass, but for now I think its job well done. I still have plenty of brass angle left, so I might put some around the top of the function key trays, and take the edging down to meet the painted brass bit. I know the paint looks a bit scuffed, but I like the fact that it looks a bit used, as if this is a real antique and has seen some use. Maybe the owner took it home from the office after they brought in these nasty new white boxes?
