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1 Make a cabinet of the desired size from sheet metal. Cut three good-sized holes aligned in the vertical center on each of the four long panels to accommodate the LEDs. Bend the sides of the sheet metal back to form a box of the desired size.

2 Obtain a blank circuit board. The board should be large enough to accommodate connections for at least 6 light-emitting diodes, plus two large integrated circuits and supporting components.

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3 Design the logic of the board. Designate two separate but related circuits, named "north-south" and "east-west."

4 Wire a 555 timer to the circuit board. The 555 timer provides a "pulse" to signal the decade counter when it is time to advance its internal clock one iteration. Connect pins 6 and 2 to the positive terminal. Pin 3 connects to Pin 14 of a CMOS 4017 decade counter. Pins 7, 8 and 4 connect to the positive terminal. Pin 1 connects to ground. To make the circuit variable, add a potentiometer or variable resistor between pins 2 and 7. Add a static resistor to the positive lead between pins 7 and 8.

5 Wire the CMOS 4017 decade counter to the board. Pins 8, 5 and 13 go to the negative terminal. Pin 14 gets connected to Pin 3 of the 555 counter. Pin 16 goes to the positive terminal. Pins 1,5, 6 and 9 are wired in parallel to the green light of the east/west display, and Pin 11 gets connected to the yellow LED of the east-west circuit, completing the loop. Meanwhile, pins 3,2,4 and 7 get wired to the green LED of the north-south display and pin 10 is connected to the yellow LED. The decade counter routes electricity internally based on the internal counter, signalling green, yellow or red lights as needed.

6 Wire the LED displays themselves. Connect the red displays to ground. The remaining LEDs in each display are wired in a loop, with a switch between the green and yellow LEDs. When voltage is applied to the circuit, the counter will regulate the timing. The green LED on the north-south circuit should light up at the same time the red light does on the east-west circuit. The green light will shut off shortly before the switchover and the yellow LED will display. After a moment, the process will reverse.

7 Place the circuit board face up at the bottom or top of the display; this moves heat away from the delicate integrated circuts. Extend wires to the LEDs as needed and place them in the appropriate openings in the cabinet. Put a clear lens or window in the openings to protect the circuits from the elements or to add realism.

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