On Sunday, 3 February 2019 09:58:11 UTC, Tim+ wrote:
So, any recommendations for basic and more advanced kits that wont break
the bank? At the moment looking at a cheap Tesla coil kit on eBay.

The "Science Fair" projects sold by Tandy in the 80s may be simple compared to these days of digital this, microprocessor that, and IoT't'other, but they came with manuals that had a full circuit description. You won't get a digital clock, but you'll get an AM radio, simple intercom and maybe a siren oscillator!

And if you want to solder one up permanently the components will be cheaper than chips. They only had a small number of preferred value components (this one had 10 resistors) so you can buy 10 x 50-packs from cpc and have all the resistors you need to make 50 projects with no waste. Transistors may need an equivalent.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCIENCE-F...T/333033499767

Essential you get one with a manual, though.

Owain