[KenWittlief]

sometimes resistors are not marked, but they are almost always black on one side and white on the other. If you see a white part, its a resistor placed upside down.

Surface mount inductors are usually dark grey and unmarked.

The secret to soldering surface mount parts is to get a tube of solder paste. (note: solder paste is not the same thing as flux paste). It comes in a syring with a metal needle, and you need to buy the handle to squeeze it out of the tube. (expensive$$$). The solder paste is tiny little balls of solder mixed with solder flux. It has the consistancy of peanut butter.

You hold the component with tweezers on the clean pads, put a dab of solder paste on one end of the part, then touch it for a second or two with an iron. The solder melts and wells up so nice on the part and the pad. Then you do the other end.

To use wire solder correctly you need to hold the part on the pads, heat the pad with the iron and apply the solder at the same time. Unless you have three hands its impossible.

I also recommend you get a pair of 2.5X reading glasses. They have them in drug stores and places like BJs or Sams club pretty cheap ($16 for 3 pairs). The other thing is: you cant solder a moving target, so you need a vice or something to hold the board still while you solder parts to it.