Most of these projects are done the "manhattan" way, unetched copper boards which i buy in bulk of different sizes, thickness single/double copper coated and small islands made for the parts that need to be connected, rest is mass or -.
Small rail etched for the + done.

Larger and projects that need a pcb done for me at the ham club, they hav all the stuff there, no need to play around with etching fluid here and get stuff ruined ( Don't ask) ;)

The pieces of unetched pcb are also nice to make project boxes, using ,my 100 watt soldering iron to solder them together easily workable on and keeping the plain side without copper to the outside a can of acrylic automotive paint does the rest.