TransitVan is a prototype 40% keyboard built to support the keycaps from a Wyze Terminal Keyboard. It was designed in an an attempt to merge the MiniVan layout with the large 9.75 spacebar found on Wyze boards. The original thread can be viewed on GeekHack: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=84712.0
The large spacebar on TransitVan ultimately led Trash Man to design the BigBoi and Ketch PCBs that feature 9u, 9.75u, and even 12.75u spacebar options.
¶ Design
At the heart of the TransitVan design is the 9.75u spacebar that dominates the bottom row of the board. The MiniVan layout (known for its split spacebars and things like optional arrow keys) was modified to utilize such a large spacebar in a small form factor. Since the Wyze board it was based on used some non-standard keycap sizes, TransitVan wound up being 13.75u wide - 0.25u narrower than other MiniVan-based boards like TtocyobItna and 40700 that used standard modifier keys.
¶ Layout
TransitVan uses a MiniVan layout with extended modifier keys on both sides to accomidate the larger keys from the donor board. Many Wyze boards include a split left spacebar (even on some ANSI layouts) so TransitVan featured a split 1u/1.25u left shift setup instead of the standard 2.25u left shift. The right-side modifiers on the donor Wyze board used all non-standard keys, specifically a 1.25u Delete, 2u Enter, and 1.5u right Shift key. A 1u key was added next to the 1.25u Delete key to keep the top 3 row widths the same.
¶ PCBs
TransitVan is a hand-wired keyboard and a PCB was never produced. It used a Teensy 2.0 microcontroller board with a Mini USB port to connect to the host computer. The switches are spring-swapped 98g Cherry MX "Jailhouse" Greens that are modded with Jspacers.
¶ Cases
TransitVan was built in a bespoke 20-year-old mahogany wood case with an aluminum switch plate and custom aluminum foot that was engraved with the name of the board.
