Building the v1.1 Motor Controller Shield

This is the circuit diagram for our v1.1 motor control shield.
When we build them we need to use radial capacitors for C5 & C6 (100uf/35+vdc), and add IC sockets.  Also, the LED polarity is not labled on the board and one is the reverse of the other two -- need to 'tone-it-out'.
Be sure to use the flux pen.  You shoud use a fine tip iron and I noticed that the heat-reansfer/solder-stick to the board was problematic without using the pen.

As far as building goes, I would suggest working up in height:

1 - Place and solder all the resistors, then clip the leads.
2 - Place and solder the two buttons, S1 & S2.
3 - Place and solder the three IC sockets.
4 - Tone-out the LED position polarity: the PWR LED has a direct connection to GROUND.  LED1 & LED2 have a direct connection to 5V.  Place, solder, and clip the leads.
5 - Place and solder the four filter capacirots around the 16-pin IC - C1~4, then clip the leads.
6 - Place and solder the four headers on the top of the board - motors, encoder, & stepper.
7 - Place and solder the two power capacitors - C5 & C6, then clip the leads.
8 - Insert the four, six, and eight pin headers into the approproate sockets on your Arduino Uno R3 board - 5V~Vin, Digital 2~7, and Digital 8~AREF.  With the headers securely seated in the Uno, place the shield onto the pins.  Ensure that everything fits well and clears, then solder from the top side of the shield (your only option, really...).
9 - Carefully roll the IC pins so they are parallel (and straight) and insert them into the appropriate sockets - the 7400 is next to the encoder header pins.
10 - Write a sketch and make things move!
Here's a sample sketch: http://blushingboy.net/p/motorShieldV3/page/Example-DC-motor/