December 7, 2015, 7:32 am
Designed by Tom Jolly, who has to-date 68 designs on PWBP, the Cubic Burr was Tim Udall's IPP35 Exchange Puzzle. Also made by Tim himself, this one is hardy, can stand knocks and abuse. That's why I took it with me on my present business trip for some puzzling (instead of pubbing) fun after work.
The Cubic Burr is a 6-piece interlocking solid with one congruent pair of pieces. Its made of Red Meranti which gives it the dark brown appearance. The Cubic Burr is 7.5cm square all round and solid and heavy. Construction and finish is good and all the pieces appear well cut and glued together. The only gripe I have is that I wished the pieces could slide against each other more smoothly; it was a bit stiff here and there but thankfully there was no jamming during play and things improved as the burr got broken in.
The Burr came solved so the object is to disassemble and re-assemble the 6 pieces. It didn't look like one of those complicated type high-level burrs but this puzzle is no walk in the park either with a level 6.9.4.5.2 solution. Right from the start I was stumped a while and it took me a good nearly 10 minutes to move the first piece, after a bit of shaking and light banging to make sure the pieces were not stuck to each other (which I initially thought they were).
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With some manipulation, I was able to remove the first piece and after nine more moves, the second came out. Because the burr consists of only 6 pieces and the first two came out in a similar sort of way, it was easier to remember the moves and the orientation of the pieces. This is one of those burrs which I did not have to resort to Burr Tools for assistance. Of course I didn't want to scramble the pieces and give myself problems later. So I did the smart thing to lay the pieces out on my hotel room bed in the order they came apart during the solve. Returning the pieces to the solved cube was the reverse and I managed this without too much fuss.
Overall a nice and well made interlocking puzzle with just the right level of difficulty for an exchange puzzle. Fun to solve too!
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December 9, 2015, 3:38 am
The Moose Ball was the second puzzle I brought along on my present business trip, together with the Cubic Burr.
This is a "tetrahedrally based puzzle with only four pieces"...according to the instructions which came with the puzzle. If you are stumped by the technical term (like I was, click here), And if you are wondering what's a moose, click here.
This puzzle was Simon Bexfield's IPP35 Exchange Puzzle and Simon 3D printed the puzzle himself. Nicely done and quality and fit is good.
The puzzle consists of 4 pieces and the object is to take it apart and put the pieces back together again. When I first handled it I thought it was some sort of co-ordinate motion puzzle and tried to pull all 4 pieces apart together. Not really so, as I played with it and figured what needed to be done since the 4 pieces are "locked" together.
Its not a difficult puzzle and most experienced puzzlers would be able to solve it quite quickly. Putting it back together is a slight tad harder but with only 4 pieces and single solution, not hard to figure out either.
I believe Simon has the Moose Ball available for sale (and not only in black) but in a variety of colours as well. If you would like want, you can contact Simon via his website.
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December 13, 2015, 12:22 am
Now isn't this a handsome looking puzzle? The TetraHexed shown here is Stan Issacs' IPP35 Exchange Puzzle.
The TetraHexed is a Stewart Coffin design that dates back to 1971. The original copy called Cetus was made by a company called Skor-Mor. It was made of Styrene and Stan's mother had bought it for him from the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
This beautifully crafted version is made by Wayne Daniels and comprises of three woods, one which is Paduak, and the other two likely to be Cherry and Mahogany (although I can't be sure). Dimensionally, each triangular edge is 10cm x 10cm x10cm. All the pieces are very precisely cut with sharp edges and fit is perfect. The puzzle is just loose enough for the pieces to slide nicely yet the puzzle holds itself together properly. Really nice quality here.
In the packaging Stan has also provided 4 classifications for this puzzle:-
1. Hordern-Dalgety - INT-POLY2. Slocum: 3.2 - Interlocking solid, geometric3. Hajek Big Six - Packing 3-d4. Houlis - +BU+GE+IN+MA+WD+04+TE
Now #4 above has me stumped; what do the letters and numbers mean? If anyone knows, please feel free to add a comment here.
The object of the TetraHexed is take the puzzle apart and put it together again with an additional challenge of putting three colours on each face.
This is a 6-piece co-ordinate motion puzzle. Dis-assembly and re-assembly is not too difficult as you manipulate the pieces. My way is to split it into two halves and then further split each of the halves. But putting it together with three different colours for each face is more tricky and requires some thinking and experimenting. All the 6 pieces are identical save for one different colour for each pair.
Not difficult from the puzzling standpoint, but certainly this is one of those puzzles that would look really good on the coffee table!
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December 17, 2015, 7:36 am
Made by the Toyo Glass Company of Japan, Packed In Tokyo was designed by the late famous puzzle designer Nob Yoshigahara. Nob had designed well over 200 mechanical puzzles during his life time, including many from the glass puzzle series. For more information on Nob's life, click here and here.
My copy of Packed In Tokyo was released around 1992. As the name suggests, its a packing puzzle but with a very unique and interesting theme; imagine its rush hour in Tokyo and people are squeezing themselves into a subway car...The goal here is to pack the 8 white figurines into a rocking glass. The figurines are made of heavy duty plastic and very solid. They are a mixture of men, women and kids of both genders, different ages, shapes and sizes. The glass container has coloured words like "bang" and train doors printed around it to illustrate how tightly squeezed everyone in the train car is/will be.
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While the puzzle is not an easy puzzle by any means, its not frustratingly difficult either. I would rate it as more than moderately difficult. Although 8 figurines seem like too many to pack into the glass, the clue is actually in the shapes of the figurines. The figurines have been molded so as to fit the inside curve of the glass and/or against each other...just nicely. We puzzlers are generally used to geometric or similar shaped packing puzzles where the pack is usually very obvious if gotten correct but not so here...there are arms, legs, bodies, bags all over the place in different contortions. Look at the photos and you will know what I mean.
I experimented with different ways of packing and several times, everything fitted into the glass but always, someone's head will be just poking a tad above the top edge. At other times, I forced the last figurine a bit and felt the fit was way too tight and again "everyone" didn't look quite comfortable inside. Eventually after some time of trial and error, I finally managed to get all 8 figurines packed inside the glass just below the top level with all the 8 persons just a wee bit loose against each other (so no force needed at all). Now I knew I had done it correctly and the assembled puzzle looks correct! And I will assume also a unique solution here.
Overall Packed In Tokyo is a great design and high quality glass puzzle with more than sufficient challenge; not to mention the vintage of it makes it a rare collectible.
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December 20, 2015, 5:49 am
NameBookDesignerTatsuo Miyamoto (on his 2014 Christmas present, click here)
Type & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions10.5cm x 12cm x 4.5cm
Materials & ConstructionA combination of exotic hardwoods with contrasting colours including what appears to be walnut and paduak. More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016.
Construction fit and finish is excellent. All panels slide smoothly and are very precisely joined. With nice finishing touches like a spine label, the puzzle really looks every bit like a real book!
OverviewThe objective here is to "open" the book. 5 moves are required before the box is solved and the "pages" slide out revealing a cavity which can hold small items. There are two circular cut-outs so the designer intended for small pieces of paper, cards etc to kept inside and easily taken out.
Difficulty LevelFor anyone who has had some experience with trick opening or Japanese puzzle boxes, its pretty easy.
SummaryMiyamoto's 2015 Christmas present has a nearly similar mechanism to his 2014 puzzle but with a couple of more steps added this year. And applied to a different object. Very nice indeed and a great display piece!
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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December 21, 2015, 6:16 am
NameBox Wrapped With Bow And Ribbon. This is my "working name" at this point in time. Not sure of the actual name of the puzzle.DesignerAkio Kamei (on his 2014 Christmas present, click here)
Type & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions8cm x 8cm x 5.5cm
Materials & ConstructionA combination of exotic hardwoods with contrasting colours including what appears to be purpleheart, teak and walnut. More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016.
Construction fit and finish is excellent. All panels slide smoothly and are very precisely joined.
OverviewThe objective here is to open the box which resembles a box wrapped with ribbon and bow. 5 moves are required before the top portion of the box is detached to reveal an empty container housed within.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solved state of the puzzle. Password - akiokamei Its a spoiler. So DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it.Difficulty LevelNot difficult once you discover the solution but pretty tricky at the beginning. I found myself fiddling with the puzzle for a while before figuring out the necessary steps to open.
SummaryBeautifully made with all the details and nice finishing touches. Great for placing small items inside like jewellery and other keepsakes
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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December 22, 2015, 8:38 am
Note: As quite a number of puzzlers (mainly in the US and Europe) have not received their Christmas presents, there will be no photo(s) of the solved puzzle posted here so as not to spoil their surprise. Instead there is a link further down the page for you to click on should you wish to see it
NameGentleman Crocodile (as stated on the label of the box)DesignerYun Kakuda (on her 2014 Christmas present, click here)
Type & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions16.5cm x 5cm x 4.5cm
Materials & ConstructionNot sure what is the wood used but it looks like acacia wood for the whole crocodile and bits of walnut and maple for the hat on its head. More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016.
Construction fit and finish is excellent. All panels slide smoothly and are very precisely joined.
OverviewThe objective here is to find and locate a secret compartment within the crocodile. 4 moves are required to solve the puzzle.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solved state of the puzzle. Password - yunkakudaThere are spoilers. DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it.
Difficulty LevelPretty tricky to find the secret compartment. Very well hidden and not obvious at all.
SummaryTypical of Kaduda's designs, this is another animal themed puzzle. Great looking with a rather clever and cool mechanism.
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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December 23, 2015, 5:08 am
Note: As quite a number of puzzlers (mainly in the US and Europe) have not received their Christmas presents, there will be no photo(s) of the solved puzzle posted here so as not to spoil their surprise. Instead there is a link further down the page for you to click on should you wish to see it.
NamePanda. Name to be confirmed.DesignerEither Osamu Kasho or Shiro Kajima (likely to be the former) Type & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions8cm x 8cm x 5.5cm
Materials & ConstructionCan't state for sure what are the woods used are but could well be magnolia and walnut. More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016. Construction fit and finish is excellent.
OverviewThe objective here is to "open" the Panda to find a hidden compartment. 2 moves are required to solve the puzzle but finding where to start may be tricky for some.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solved state of the puzzle. Password - osamukashoThere are spoilers. DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it.
Difficulty LevelRelatively easy.
SummaryThis is my first puzzle from Kasho (or from Tajima for that matter). Nice workmanship and the Panda is really very cute! Certainly will order another present again from the same designer in 2016
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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December 25, 2015, 10:56 pm
Note: Most puzzlers would have received their Christmas presents by now, however, in order not to reveal any spoilers, there will be no photo(s) of the solved puzzle posted here. Instead there is a password protected link further down the page for you to click on should you wish to see them.
NameMonkey. Name to be confirmed.DesignerShiro Tajima Type & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions8cm x 7cm x 6cm
Materials & ConstructionNot sure what are the woods used are but could be mahogany or teak with cherry. More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016. Construction fit and finish is excellent.
OverviewTo reveal a secret compartment inside the Monkey. 5 moves required to solve the puzzle.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solved state of the puzzle. Password - shirotajimaThere are spoilers. DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it.
Difficulty LevelNot as easy as the previous 4 presents and also quite tricky.
SummaryThis is my first puzzle from Shiro Tajima. Really a very nice puzzle with great detailing and finishing. As you solve it, you will discover a rather cute surprise along the way. The mechanism is an interesting one and quite unique. A fun solve!
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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December 27, 2015, 4:01 pm
Note: Most puzzlers would have received their Christmas presents by now, however, in order not to reveal any spoilers, there will be no photo(s) of the solved puzzle posted here. Instead there is a password protected link further down the page for you to click on should you wish to see them.
NameRectangular Box. Sorry for such a lousy working name, but I couldn't think of anything else which will not give any clues away. Name to be confirmed.DesignerHideaki KawashimaType & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions11cm x 5.5cm x 5.5cm
Materials & ConstructionThere's a bit of purpleheart here and there but I can't really tell what is the wood used for the overall build. More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016. Construction fit and finish is excellent with nice detailing and everything slides smoothly as intended.
OverviewTo find the hidden compartment. A whopping 12 moves required to solve the puzzle completely.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solved state of the puzzle. Password - kawashimaThere are spoilers. DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it.
Difficulty LevelModerately difficult, by far the most challenging, compared to the previous 5 presents.
SummaryThis is my first puzzle by Kawashima. A rather unusual puzzle box with quite a number of moves by Karakuri Christmas Presents standard. Quite a fair bit to do here. Very tricky and requires careful observation to get the moves right. Got me stumped for a while. IMHO, this is the level of difficulty appropriate for a Christmas present, not easy yet sufficiently difficult to let puzzlers feel they are really getting puzzling value for money.
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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December 30, 2015, 6:54 am
Note: Most puzzlers would have received their Christmas presents by now, however, in order not to reveal any spoilers, there will be no photo(s) of the solved puzzle posted here. Instead there is a password protected link further down the page for you to click on should you wish to see them.
NameCoin Box. For obvious reasons as you can see from the photo above. Name to be confirmed.DesignerFumio TsuburaiType & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions9.5cm x 8.5cm x 6.5cm
Materials & ConstructionLooks to be paduak throughout with yosegi finishing on the top surface. More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016. Construction fit and finish is excellent.
OverviewTo find the hidden compartment. 5 moves required to open the box.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solved state of the puzzle. Password - tsuburaiThere are spoilers. DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it.
Difficulty LevelThis one totally stumped me. Thanks to Stephen Miller (the inventor of the Fire puzzle), who happened to have purchased all 9 presents and who told me what I needed to do to solve the puzzle.
SummaryThis is my first puzzle by Tsuburai. The solution and way to solve was certainly not what I expected; hence a bit of a surprise. For this puzzle, some accompanying instructions I think would have been appropriate. I don't want to put a spoiler here so I will update this part once the solutions to all the presents have been sent to their owners early next year.
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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December 31, 2015, 5:55 am
Note: Most puzzlers would have received their Christmas presents by now, however, in order not to reveal any spoilers, there will be no photo(s) of the solved puzzle posted here. Instead there is a password protected link further down the page for you to click on should you wish to see them.
NameBean Bag Drawer 2. This is the actual name as stated on a card which came inside the packaging.DesignerHiroshi IwaharaType & ClassificationTrick Opening Puzzle Box
Dimensions13.5cm x 9.5cm x 9.5cm (the largest of the Christmas presents this year)
Materials & ConstructionCombination of at least 4 different woods including what appears to be cherry and maple More information once the solution/specs are sent to me early 2016. Construction fit and finish is excellent.
OverviewTo find the hidden compartment. Multiple moves (can't give the exact number at this moment as not fully solved) required to open the box.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the partially solved state of the puzzle. Password - hiwaharaThere are spoilers. DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it.
Difficulty LevelI only managed to solve this puzzle partially. There are two stages and the second has eluded me so far, despite getting some hints from Otis Cheng. Like Iwahara's 2014 present Confetto Box 2, which I solved halfway (without realizing there was more), the Bean Bag Drawer 2 surpasses its 2014 cousin in terms of difficulty. This latest present appears very difficult, for me definitely... not merely by Christmas Presents standard but also measured against other puzzle boxes I gave played with in general. But it seems that quite a few puzzlers have managed to get this one solved!
SummaryThis is my second puzzle from Iwahara and certainly won't be my last. From what I can tell, the general consensus is that Iwahawa designs are clear favorites among puzzlers who go for Karakuri presents (alongside Kamei puzzles). A large and great looking puzzle box which displays beautifully.
For information on Karakuri Christmas Presents generally, please click here.
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Name69DesignerJerry Loo
ManufacturerHandmade by Lacika Kmolnar from Hungary. He has designed several puzzles including the popular L-I-vator Cube.Type & Classification3.2 Interlocking solid
Dimensions5.0 in x 3.5 in x 2.0 in
Materials & ConstructionWalnut and Maple. Construction, fit and finish is well above average and everything works as intended. Lacika (or Laszlo as he known) is an amateur wood worker and has put in a very good effort to make three copies of the puzzle for me.
OverviewThe 69 was one of my two entries for the IPP35 Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition. The object is to rearrange the pieces in the box to form the #9. Starting position of the puzzle is a #6.
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solution. Password - jerryloo69DO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it. NOTE: Turning the puzzle upside down 180 degrees is NOT the solution.
Difficulty LevelI would grade it a 6.5/10 to 7/10 but based on feedback I received from some puzzlers who have played with the 69, apparently its not easy; somewhere in between moderate to difficult. There are a couple ways to solve the 69 but only one which requires the minimal number of moves.
SummaryThis is not just your typical packing puzzle where you try to fit all the pieces flush into a tray. I have added a bit of a "twist" to this one to surprise the puzzler.
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Name4 Ducks & A DucklingDesignerJerry Loo
Manufacturer & AvailabilityMy prototype and competition copies were 3D printed by Steve Nicholls. John Hache licensed my design for his IPP35 Exchange Puzzle and his version is laser cut 0.5in thick acrylic. You may wish to contact either Steve or John for availability.Type & Classification2D Packing
Dimensions12.5 cm x 12.5 cm x 2cm (John's version is 10cm x 10cm x 1.25cm)
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| John Hache's IPP35 Exchange Puzzle (made from laser cut acrylic) |
Materials & Construction3D printed using ABS resin
Overview4 Ducks was the second of my two entries for the IPP35 Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition at Ottawa, Canada last August. There are 3 challenges for this puzzle:- Fit all 4 ducks into the pond (tray)
- Fit all 4 ducks and the duckling into the pond
- Fit all 4 ducks into the pond to form a symmetrical shape
SolutionWARNING: The link here shows the solutions. Password - ducklingDO NOT click on the link if you do not wish to see it. Difficulty LevelThe first challenge is very easy, while the second is moderate. The last is pretty hard; there are 144 ways to fit the 4 ducks into the tray but only ONE will form a symmetrical pattern. Based on feedback, most puzzlers can solve the first two challenges quite quickly but take a while to figure out the third.
SummaryPrior to designing 4 ducks, I have been toying around with designing puzzles using the triangular format. While there are some instances where the format is suitable for 3D interlocking burr style puzzles, but for 2D packing puzzles, the format enables more thematic shapes and design options (like the 4 ducks here). I think it also generally makes a puzzle using triangular lines somewhat harder, since most of us are used to and always seeing and playing with vertical/horizontal format puzzle designs.
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NameCeladon Wine PotDesignerUnknown
Manufacturer & AvailabilityReplicas are available from China and there is even one appearing on Etsy.Type & ClassificationPuzzle Vessel
Dimensions19 cm (H) x 15 cm (diameter)
Materials & ConstructionPorcelain.
OverviewHere's a puzzle that is totally different...
This was a gift to me from fellow puzzle collector Yee Dian Lee, whom I featured a while back. Lee wrote to me to give me more information about this wine pot:
"....the puzzle winepot (倒流壶 Daoliuhu) which you brought back, it is a replica of a Tang Dynasty celadon piece that was unearthed in 1968 in Shaanxi Province, China. That piece is now kept at the Shaanxi History Museum (陕西历史博物馆) in Xian, Shaanxi.
A giant replica of this now sits in front of another museum in Yaozhou district near Xian (see the bottom of the page here - http://blog.sina.com.cn/guwan2005 )
More details here in Chinese (which can be Google translated) -
The Lilly Library also holds a similar replica (Lion Wine Pot) with some info in its puzzle vessels collection.
Difficulty Level
You fill the vessel from a bottom filling hole...and pour out the wine/liquid from the Lion's spout like an ordinary tea pot. There are a number of illustrations on the internet showing the internal mechanics of the pot and how the vessel is filled and used. I will leave readers to discover these for themselves.
Summary
This the first and so far my only puzzle vessel in my collection. A big thank you to Yee Dian Lee for his generosity.
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January 13, 2016, 8:22 pm
NameMint Man
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| Start Position |
DesignerUnknown.
Manufacturer & AvailabilityThe Mint Man you see here was produced and sold by The Kelrack Ltd of Middlesex, England. A check revealed that Kelrack Ltd was a manufacturer of plastic products and incorporated in 1973. It has since been dissolved.
As far as I can tell, this version is not available anymore. But other similar versions are available commercially (see below). I was very lucky to obtain one online for $5/- from a used toy seller (who probably didn't know much about puzzles).Type & ClassificationSliding Block puzzle. For information generally on sliding block puzzles, click here and here. To see the vast variety of sliding block puzzles out there and their designers, click here.
Dimensions9cm (H) x 7.5cm (W) x 2cm (D)
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| 20 Moves |
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| 40 Moves |
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| 60 Moves |
Materials & ConstructionPlastic. Pretty decent quality but not heavy duty.
OverviewThe Mint Man produced by Kelrack is one of many variations of the same puzzle that goes by a number of different names; a Chinese "army" version called Huarong Pass, a number of wooden commercial versions with names such as Setting Sun, Soccer Game etc adopting a variety of themes but the puzzle itself is essentially the same. Some years ago, there was even a Microsoft 3.1 Entertainment Pack digital version called Forget Me Not.
However, what's different here is that Kelrack produced the Mint Man to hold a piece of candy and the reward, apart from solving the puzzle, is to get the candy out of the largest piece. Within the plastic version, the Mint Man also came with a black tray and slightly different coloured pieces as well as other themes.
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| 81 Moves. Mint Man with Gummy |
Difficulty Level
Very difficult! The minimum number of moves required to solved the Mint Man is a whopping 81! I never managed to solve this one. I really pity those poor kids and their parents who tore their hair out trying to figure this one out to get the candy. Well, fortunately, the box tray can be split apart to remove the pieces if all else fails. While 81 is a lot of moves, there are designers like Minoru Abe that have come up with over 200 moves using very whimsical and cute themes. One of my personal favourite designers.
There are also a number of videos on the internet which shows the step by step solve, so help is at hand should you decide to purchase a copy.
Summary
Nice collectible! A more solid and heavy 3D printed version would be nice.
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January 21, 2016, 6:22 am
NameFusion
DesignerGoh Pit Khiam.
Manufacturer & AvailabilityMy copy was made by Eric Fuller. A total of 39 copies were made and sold for $57 each. Currently none available.Type & Classification2D packing
Dimensions3.8in x 3.8in x 0.8inMaterials & ConstructionThe tray is made of Maple while the pieces are Yellowheart, Bubinga, Paduak and Walnut. The tray has a top and bottom transparent acrylic cover. Construction and quality as usual is first rate with everything precisely and accurately cut.
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No spoiler here showing the solved state, since the
challenge is to pack the pieces into the tray |
OverviewThis is another Goh Pit Khiam classic, following the likes of Retrofit and the IPP33 award winning Dancing Shoes. Puzzlers who have played with Goh's packing puzzles know that they are always in for a surprise since Goh's packing puzzles are anything but the typical.
The object is to pack the 5 pieces (4 which are identical) into the tray. The tray has a clear cover with a square hole the size which is just enough for each of the pieces to go through.
Difficulty Level
IMHO, more than moderately difficult but very tricky. Fusion is by far the most challenging of the three, as compared to Retrofit and Dancing Shoes. It took me a while to figure this one out. For anyone who has not experienced a Goh packing puzzle, he/she may take a really long time to solve Fusion, or not even at all. Again, some thinking outside the box (tray) is necessary here but ultimately, what needs to be done is inside the tray that matters.
Summary
Some folks are good at designing high level burrs while others are good at designing packing puzzles. Fusion is another great design from someone who manages to do both well.
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January 24, 2016, 10:33 pm
Name8 Stars Labyrinth
DesignerRobrecht Louage. The 8SL was also Robrecht's entry to the IPP35 Puzzle Design Competition.
Manufacturer & AvailabilityManufactured and sold by Robrecht himself. He may still have some copies available. Type & ClassificationRoute finding/Maze
Dimensions12cm x 8cm x 2.5cmMaterials & ConstructionThe puzzle is made of Trespa (a very strong and durable composite laminate made of resin reinforced by cellulose fibres generally used for interior table tops) with a translucent covering made of frosted acrylic. Construction, fit and finish is superb with very tight tolerances and everything accurately cut (especially the maze channels). A very high quality and solid puzzle.
Overview
The 8SL seems to be a bit of a departure from both of these styles. Instead what we have here is a puzzle which requires you to navigate a little ball bearing (7.5mm diameter) through a series of channels fraught with a number of traps and obstacles along the way.
Object is to put the ball bearing in the hole "IN" and get the ball through the maze and its obstacles and then exit the hole marked "OUT". Take a look at the photo and you will know what I mean.
Difficulty LevelThe 8SL is a bit beyond moderate difficulty. Quite a number of traps along the way. While some of the obstacles are visible through the translucent cover and its obvious what needs to be done, some are not and requires a bit of trial and error. And in some cases, dexterity is required. There are also four traps that are hidden from view (the blacked out areas on the cover) and these require some thinking as to how to pass the ball through them.
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I had previously designed a couple of puzzles involving moving ball bearings (see my BIC#1and BIC#2) and so had some inkling of how the traps might work. But despite this, I still took nearly 45 minutes to solve the puzzle. Gabriel Fernandez took just 10 minutes! I guess I spent the most time on the bottom hidden maze. Its almost right next to the finish point but because its hidden and the ball is only visible through some of the holes at the bottom plate, I made a number of unsuccessful attempts before getting the ball back out to the top channel.
Summary
Overall a nice, fun and more than sufficiently challenging puzzle; not the most difficult by any means of course. And at times, you have to navigate blind. What I like about the 8SL is that you get the "a-ha" moments as you successfully tackle each trap/obstacle. You can feel your progress and can take your time to finish the solve in stages.
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January 26, 2016, 10:50 pm
NameVauban H5
DesignerStephane Chomine. As of this post, he has a staggering 497 published designs on PWBP. Stephane stopped posting since mid 2014 but he continues to come up with new designs that are now and again picked up by various puzzle craftsmen.
Manufacturer & AvailabilityManufactured and sold by Pelikan Puzzles of the Czech Republic. From what I can see from their website, its currently unavailable. Your best bet is to drop them an email to see if they have any spares or will be producing some more in the future.Type & ClassificationInterlocking solid
Dimensions7.2cm x 7.2cm x 6cmMaterials & ConstructionMy copy is the Red version. Made from Bubinga with Maple, the Vauban H5 is excellently constructed. All the 4 pieces are cut accurately and precisely with tight tolerances and with edges slightly beveled. But despite this and all the pieces pretty snug against each other, everything slides very smoothly and I experienced no jamming whatsoever. A very high quality piece of work.
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| This is the stage I usually reach before getting stuck |
OverviewAs usual, this level of burr is beyond me. And despite me spending a relatively long time with this one, I could not get the first piece out. After like 10 to 15 moves, I would eventually end up stuck at some dead end. And from what I can tell, there are quite a number. Each of the pieces seem to be moving around another in all directions. Beyond a certain point, I was lost in confusion and at times even had trouble getting back to the original position.
The design is also such that you can't really see what goes on inside the spaces and this makes it a lot more difficult.
Difficulty Level
Very difficult! Although only 4 pieces, this is a mid-to-high level burr with a level 31.10.7 solution (meaning it takes 31 moves to remove the first piece). A total of 48 moves to completely disassemble the puzzle. I had to use burr tools both for the dis-assembly and re-assembly. Looking at the solution, my first moves were quite wrong to begin with.
Summary
For puzzlers who enjoy this kind of challenging burrs with the time and patience to match, the Vauban H5 is a must-have. Not only great looking (just look at the diagonal Maple trim along the sides) and extremely well built, but value for money too. However, if you are like me, lousy with burrs but just can't resist the beauty and craftsmanship, then go for such puzzles anyway. Even if you can't solve them, they will look great in your puzzle cabinet.
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February 3, 2016, 9:27 pm
NameAntislide Tetramino
DesignerVladimir Krasnoukhov, Russia. The AT-Puzzle was also Vladimir's IPP35 Exchange Puzzle. For some of his other very nice puzzle designs, click here and here.
Manufacturer & AvailabilityManufactured and sold by Vladimir himself. He may still have some copies available. Type & Classification2D Packing
Dimensions13.5cm x 7.5cm x 0.6cmMaterials & ConstructionLaser cut acrylic used throughout. 3mm thickness for the pieces and the tray. Excellent quality and Vladimir went one step further by providing a red piece-holder so that all the pieces are are nicely held together when not in play.
OverviewThis is not just your usual packing puzzle, but one with an added task; to pack all the 5 tetramino (each piece is 4 units) pieces into the tray in such a fashion that none of the pieces can slide (or move) in any direction. As a pure packing puzzle, this would have been a no-brainer, but with the anti-slide requirement, the AT-Puzzle becomes a very difficult puzzle indeed!
I took the better part of a day and still couldn't figure out the solution and decided to email fellow puzzle collector George Bell (who had solved it a while back) for a clue. But before he replied, something clicked in my brain and I tried arranging the pieces in a new way...and there, within seconds...I had solved it! I usually don't spend so much time on any one puzzle, but this one just drew me in and I went on and on playing with it, refusing to give up. I wish I could do the same for burrs.
Difficulty Level
Very difficult! thinking outside the norm is required no less. If you wish to see the solution, please click here - Password - antislide.
Summary
The AT-Puzzle is absolutely fantastic. It is also George Bell's favourite. So innocuously simple looking yet extremely challenging for a 5-piece puzzle. One of those puzzles that once you pick it up and know what you have to do, you simply can't put it down.
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