So... I accepted Taylor's offer to buy his pieces and make a puzzle from them.
He has made some excellent job, and his molds are also brilliant and begging me to use them again!

It was a marathon effort, but one thing's for sure, it was really really worth it!!!
(now I feel I can build ANY puzzle LOL).
The mechanism can be understood once it is seen, but I am now convinced that the.drizzle
is an... extra terrestrial!!!

Since it is not a puzzle that is offered to be solved (at least for now),
I had not placed any stickers, and I kind of like it as it is (I could make some sheets,
but that may invite people to start solving, so the "prototype look" will serve me better).

I virtually had to assemble it four times, as I had to face certain issues (see tips).
Will I do it again? Oh yes! And I even have more than one methods to do it.
(Plus I got some molds, so in the next months, I might attempt the Octahedron version).

And it is surely going to accompany me to my long trip in ten days.

A short video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=048yMfG0YLM


Finally, some tips to anyone who will try to assemble it:

1. There is an easy way, and a hard way to do assemble it:
(a) Easy way: Use tape to stabilise *all* the square parts defined by the eight extended pieces.
(I cannot say more about this LOL)
(b) Hard way: Start conenction everything from the bottom and gradually go up.
It is a nice sight to see how everything hangs/holds together!

2. Do not speedsolve. I repeat, do *not* speedsolve!!!
(It is clear from the video, that it is very stiff, but also note that I did not lube it).

3. Gentle forcing may help, but raw forcing may misaligne or even break some pieces.

4. Ensure all the pieces are placed correctly, *especially* those requiring orientation.
That could be in fact, the difference between a working and a non-working version!
(especially for the smallest pieces!!!)

5. Do not be afraid to tighted the screws. More tight, means easier turns. Loose, means
the turns are an impossible mission.

6. If it gets stuck, there are surely some neighbour pieces (internal or external) slightly misaligned.
Gently shift them back to place and all will be fine.

7. Beg the.drizzle to give you a license! (if you haven't got one yet)



And now it is time for me to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!




Pantazis

Stiff or not, that's amazing! It's taken me up until a few hours ago just to understand the puzzle!

The fact that 3 exist is a feat in itself. I'd buy a license if I had the money, or an idea on where to start with this puzzle!

Is it an exact replica of the.drizzle's? Or did you change it around a bit, like Taylor?

Am I the only one not going?!?!?

As I said in Taylor's post........ the core scares the hell out of me (from a casting point of view)! The only way I would build this one is to have the core polyjet printed. I'm under the impression that it isn't very forgiving and fractions of a millimeter can make a huge difference. **cough** Petaminx **cough**

Nice job Pantazis!!

This is indeed a job well done, to both of you (Taylor and Pantazis).

If you are afraid to lube it, rest assured that Alumilite resin is not negatively affected by CRC Silicone Lube (the red can). I have used it on several cast puzzles to good effect

(But of course use whatever lube Matt reccomends )

Good luck!

Cool! A third one! You did an awesome job!


What do you mean?

i.e. no lubing, no cubing!!!
(I plan to make a better video tonight, I was too sleepy after assembling 4-5 times(!) last night)




Pantazis

I quite like it without the outer surfaces. Very Vader-esque!

Yeap, totally agreed!


In the new video, I do clear turns through three different axis. The secret is the way you hold it.
If it doesn't turn when you try to rotate it with the right hand, this mean that you either
place it upside down and repeat, or use the left hand!
(which is the main reason speedsolving is strictly not allowed!)

Here's the new video (I am doing three complete slices from different angles):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhQ7MvR1Apw






Pantazis

Very nice indeed! A bit on the "gappy" side, but it works...

As I mentioned to Taylor, one of the keys to using this puzzle is to hold it in the "correct" manner when turning, or it twists out of alignment and jams during turns. In his video, Taylor has it right. You sir, do not.

Also, I'll throw this out there as my two cents; I find the best lube to use is a few sparing drops of Finish Line "Wet" lubricant (available at any decent bike shop). NOTHING sticks to that stuff, and it's what I used on my 24-Cube, which I seem to recall you've tried out, right?

Great job!

I agree, bicycle lubricants are really amazing. I normally use water-based ones
and they are so good, that some screws get unscrewed!!!
(I wonder if the water based ones are good for this puzzle... hmmm...)




Pantazis