On 22 Jan 2012 at 19:29, Tony Duell wrote:
    Do builders need to solder the surface-mount
components, or are
 they already soldered when the kit is delivered? 
 Surface-mounts are already done. 
 
 Oh well... A good reason for me not to order one, then. 
 
Many hobbyists seem to be deathly afraid of soldering SMT,
particularly fine-pitch (0.5 mm)  QFPs.  It's not that bad, even with
a regular soldering iron, but a microscope or other aid to visually
inspect the result helps a lot.
At some point, someone offered adapter cards with, for the want of a
better term, employed a "trench" for each lead, so that
misregistration was almost impossible.  I don't know if they're still
made or even how difficult it would be to fabricate such a thing on a
circuit board--but it might bear investigation for future kits.
--Chuck