We managed to source all the parts from a really good small electronics shop in Burton-Upon-Trent (that's where I was coming back from when we hit floodwater and broke my car a few weeks ago).
Thankfully a circuit board was included.
There was also a big bag of fiddly components. It was at this point that I was informed that the study was to be conducted around the manufacture by a third party.... in other words, it was me who had to build it! Great!...
I did my best and was quite pleased with the aesthetics of the end product. Sadly, I was told that this was NOT what was required. Looks like I'd have to use the circuit diagram instead.
As I got to grips with the more serious side, I was very glad of the newly purchased 'Helpy-Hands'.
Why, oh why do they indicate the value of resistors with bands of colour. Very pretty, but if your a bit colour blind like me, they're an absolute nightmare."Dear Mr. Resistor manufacturer, can you please print the value of your merchandise in digits. I know you can do this cos you do it on your capacitors. Hell, we even print 'sell by dates' on eggs nowadays. Please keep up with the times...."
I never do get around to sending these sort of letters...
Look! Writing on the capacitors!
As the capacitors, transistors and IC sockets slowly took their places, the board (if you get really close) starts to resemble a little city... You can tell my enthusiasm was beginning to wane and my mind wander at this point.
Next, the fly wires, gain controls, frequency adjuster and IC chips fitted in their sockets. I can tell you're excited by all this...Oyh! Wake up.
Don't worry, it's almost over...Speaker, power indicator, battery connector, headphone socket and microphone, all attached.
All this stuff has to be crammed into an enclosure which isn't really big enough. My tip for doing this successfully is to swear loudly and bang your fists on the table. It won't go in any easier, but you'll feel much, much better.
Right, it's all done. I bet you thought it'd never finish....I know I did.Where's my Degree?!
