Everything is now here, apart from some of the controller->solenoid driver ribbon cables, which Element14 only sent 4 out of 15, and said the rest would arrive in October. I don't think I've had an order from them in quite some time where everything went smoothly... No matter, will order some IDC connectors from RS and make my own damned cables.
First assembly day today! Managed to do all the surface-mount stuff—everything bar the edge connector, expansion header and grounding wire—on all 12 Beamspring controllers and both of the Displaywriter controllers.
I used a solder paste stencil for the first time, which was novel; even with all the aborted “prints” it was much easier than doing it by hand with the syringe, and produced much more consistent results, even with crappy paste “prints” on my behalf. I didn't bother purchasing a stencil just for the two Displaywriter controllers I had to do, and the contrast was marked. Well worth the money!
All of the above controllers are up and running over USB, apart from one Beamspring controller which needs some rework (one shift register inexplicably twisted 30°, fixable with a hot air gun); no drama, as that Beamspring controller is for me anyway
Hopefully I will be able to carry on tomorrow; will either finish off the Beamspring and Displaywriter controllers fully (need connectors soldered, some rework, testing, cleaning, then final testing) or will carry on with the reflow stuff by doing the Model F controllers.