Cheers chaps. You've no idea how worried I've been about how this ebook would be received, so I'm really glad so many of you are diving into Maplins.
I still think it's incredible that simple electronic components can be so incredibly useful in magic and mentalism with a bit of devious thought - even the finished modules and projects are really small without resorting to expensive printed circuit boards, microcontrollers or all that jazz.
Everything you'll need - from the values of components to bits and bobs like the types of wire I used - are described fully in the book. If you're into DIY, you'll already have most of them. However, Lenoir suggested I post a link to a good "how to solder" guide for the truly terrified. There's a good one at Instructables:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-solder/ If you look on the right hand side of that page, there's more information, including some videos.
I'm already compiling ideas for volume II. Now the basics are out of the way, we should really be able to get motoring. I'm looking to focus on "found" electronics next time, but also on techniques for reducing the size of scratch-built circuits. I'm really excited about "re-purposing" the innards of electronic consumer gadgets and gizmos. Some of these, like universal TV changers, are literally £1 from a pound shop and yet, their capabilities make them very interesting indeed.
If anyone has any ideas they'd like to see included in the next volume, has an idea for their own gadget they'd like to bounce off me, or just needs help, drop me a line.