Gillette: Stage Scenery
This is a good basic text on building the most commonly-used pieces of two-dimensional and 3-dimensional stage scenery such as flats, doorways and rostra. The diagrams are clearly drawn and there are elementary instructions. There are useful chapters on tools, materials, rigging and stage mechanics and paint techniques. One would need a basic undestanding of carpentry to build most of the items outlined here, and the book presumes that you are working in a well-equipped scene shop. Some of the technology has moved on since 1981 (the date of publication) and manual (rather than CAD) drafting is certainly less common.. There are a few materials mentioned which are no longer in use (such as the highly toxic celastic). But I found this a good reference book for the scene shop of a university theatre.