Heathkit products were available in the UK but relatively expensive.
That market niche was taken by a huge electronics hobbyist industry which included ten or so popular stores, a handful of monthly magazines, and various suppliers of project kits. The kits were advertised in the magazines and occasionally a kit would be featured as a project. Bigger projects could be spread over many months, with fairly minimal assembly instructions - often just a board view with component IDs/values - but relatively detailed "How it works" breakdowns.
There would also be regular features about technician/cookbook-level design topics. Not exactly EE grad level engineering, but enough of an overview to glue simple circuits together.
While some kits were complete others required inventive design for packaging, labelling, and board connections.
IMO it was more diverse and DIY-oriented scene with a smaller range of projects, but less hand-holding and more educational background detail.
I know the US had a similar scene, but some of the UK magazines had an attitude that was irreverent, fun, but still educational. I don't think there was a US equivalent.
I still wish we could have afforded an H11 though.
That market niche was taken by a huge electronics hobbyist industry which included ten or so popular stores, a handful of monthly magazines, and various suppliers of project kits. The kits were advertised in the magazines and occasionally a kit would be featured as a project. Bigger projects could be spread over many months, with fairly minimal assembly instructions - often just a board view with component IDs/values - but relatively detailed "How it works" breakdowns.
There would also be regular features about technician/cookbook-level design topics. Not exactly EE grad level engineering, but enough of an overview to glue simple circuits together.
While some kits were complete others required inventive design for packaging, labelling, and board connections.
IMO it was more diverse and DIY-oriented scene with a smaller range of projects, but less hand-holding and more educational background detail.
I know the US had a similar scene, but some of the UK magazines had an attitude that was irreverent, fun, but still educational. I don't think there was a US equivalent.
I still wish we could have afforded an H11 though.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathkit_H11