Monacokeys from Munich sells XDA White on Black. Only in German though.

But you could hit 'em up on discord and ask if they are able to source you an US layout or point you to a shop that has those in stock.

https://discord.gg/6MH5KpjK

Drop is one of the rare shops that don’t run group buys, but have in stock items instead. Mostly. No need for fomo unless stated otherwise on the product page.

Also, they have at least one buy-one-get-one-free sale per year. Because of that, you have a good chance of getting one second hand for less than a new one.

Regarding kitting you have to watch out for modifiers in the correct size for the correct row, but most keyboards are fairly standard with the exception being the bottom row. Check Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Space and Fn/Win for correct size.

i think you might overestimate the building part.

If you get a barebones board with a hotwap PCB you have to screw in stabilizers for all keys larger than 2u (=2 keys) - Shift, Enter, Backspace and Space. Since you can’t be arsed, screw lubing them. Just screw them in, takes 3 minutes.

Then, place all the switches on Plate and PCB and since they’re hotswap you just press them in.

Then place like 8 gaskets or screws, drop on your PCB-Plate-Switch-Sandwitch, screw together top and bottom with 4 more screws.

When you’re done, mount the caps, also just pop them in place.

That’s it. I reckon it’s about as much work as a 10$ Lego set.

But going prebuilt is far easier of course: Unpack, plug in, done. If you get a hotswap you can change switches later on if you fancy.

tbh, i think we reached a point where there are so many switches available, that cherrys are almost the worst price/performance product imho.

i gotta say: Puddings are somewhat nice, but always too gamer.

I reckon, “Pudding refined” with milky white bottom and Cherry style legends would look nice on most keebs.

By design, mechs are quite a bit taller, because the switches are taller.

Unless you’re a “floating” typist, I would recommend a palmrest.

I’d love one, but my colleagues…

PBT will also shine at some point. Whether it’s sooner or later depends on how you type and how greasy or sweaty your fingers are. PBT can’t do magic, it’s just a, usually softer, plastic.

If you’re looking for cheap caps, try aliexpress or taobao.

I think the problem might be sound, because the spacebar (and pcb) would be right on top of solid material and the sound can escape to the front. I guess it’ll sound very flat and no one wants to spend 300 bucks on a bad sounding spacebar.

I just started soldering. It’s not too difficult and super useful. Also adds a lot of options that are usually cheaper than hotswap.

A pinecil is 25$. add another 25 for solder, flux, a pump and copper desoldering braid and you’re set up.

I found hotswap is increasingly difficult to get once you’re looking for non-massmarket stuff outside of 60 or 65 keebs with ANSI Layout.

It’s just faster to solder than to search for non-standard hotswap.

And with millmax, you can make any solderboard hotswap if you fancy.

that really is a nice typewriter. I wonder if that spacebar integration can be done on mx as well, because it’s looking really good.

Afaik Drop sets are exclusives. You may have a good chance finding those 2nd hand on mechmarket though. Maybe even for less than 100$.

It’s german qwertz.

I built it in the german layout i’m used to because i went all in on Art Nouveau (hope i spelled that right). Including the novelty, this is base- and 4 childkits 🫥

See other comments.

I’d like to add that 3U spacebars are available with 2U and 3U stabilizers. Make sure you have the correct wire size.