Deploying Arduino project cheaply?

Hi,

I''ve recently bought a Duemilanove to develop a lighting controller for a model. Ultimately I want to make this a permenent part of the model so don't really want to use the Due, but rather I'm looking for a 'minimalist' cheap runtime option that I can just drop the programmed AT chip into, but doesn't have all the comms hardware.

Does such a thing exist?

Also if I just buy a new AT328 chip, am I right in thinking I need to get the bootloader onto it somehow before I can upload my code through the Due?

Cheers

You could use one of these...

There's a bunch of setups that will let you program the chip in an Arduino, then pull the chip out and plug it into a stand alone unit:

http://spiffie.org/kits/duinostamp/

You could get a cheap serial kit and just not build out the serial connection
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/arduino-board-serial-v20-complete-k.html

You could put together your own board with whatever parts you want
http://www.imagearts.ryerson.ca/sdaniels/physcomp/tutorials/Arduino_standalone/ard_hack.html

Seeeduinos (the 1.1v) are on sale at NKC for $16 right now
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/seeeduino-fully-assembled--arduino-compatible.html

It really depends on the application. If you aren't using 168/328 specific features, you can even drop down to another ATxxx chip and get an even smaller package (programming those can be a bit harder).

If you don't need the FTDI serial stuff i think this is about as cheap as it comes:

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1240701133

Thanks guys - they all look like the sort of thing I need!