I should have mentioned that I have two books, Wooden Planes and How to Make Them by Perch and Lee as well as Making Traditional Wooden Planes by John M. Whelan.

Both of them are good in their own right, but not complete from a complete newbies point of view.

I am hoping for a reprint of Making & Mastering Wood Planes and have even written the author (he is working to get someone to reprint it). I have difficulty bringing myself to pay what they are asking for a used copy.

I am going to go ahead and order the book you mentioned "The Wooden Plane".