Starminx II Black Body (Face Turning)

Specifications :
- Materials: ABS
- 91mm across
- 41mm edges on pentagonal faces
- Stickers:13 colors PVC X 2 (DIY)

Share with you all, photo as below,

SWEET!

I will be placing an order for the black body shortly

Edit: Placed

I couldn't help myself, I had to order a purple one. Can't wait.

So soon, I just got my Helicopter Dodecahedron.
Anyway I'll have to wait until a white one is available

Robert

Wow, I really have to get one of these. I just cant decide between the black or the purple

Awesome! I'll be ordering mine soon!! I can't wait

-CB

Please Mf8 stop changeing names ! This isn't a Starminx II, this is a Starminx I ! The other one isn't a Starminx it's a Dino Dodecahedron, Starminxes are deep cut

It would be very interesting to see this puzzle is just pure transparent, so you can clearly see how the puzzle works with the shells mechanism.

I'm looking forward to playing with this one!

"Go ahead, get one from Shapeways. The mechanism is so complex that nobody will ever mass-produce it". *sigh*...But for those who can't afford a print, or whose print went badly...

Could it be possible to get a video showing the turning?

It looks quite sharp, in the most literal sense. I would also like a demonstration of the turning, though I'm sure it will be just fine.

Here's katsmom's video from a while back, Starminx featured at 4:36. Turning looks really really tight (but maybe that was a prototype?).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR4TlC2dkwM

Now what? There are only so many puzzles I can buy!

Although... I can't resist the temptation to get a Megaminx, Pyraminx Crystal and Starminx in the same order...

Actually, this is excellent! It means that my one order before Christmas can be a set of face-turning dodecahedra. And I can extrapolate Starminx from Pyraminx Crystal on the plane

Just ordered a corner-turning dodecahedron for Christmas. Hope to get this one later!
Is it the same size as the CTD?

F
I
N
A
L
L
Y

:OOOOOOOOO

bought.

edit: has Rox seen this already? I mean after all it's

PINK

Yes, they are same size.
Thanks for your order and always support.

Quick question for exCalvin: when are they going to release the Rex Dodecahedron? I remember prototype pictures of the original three dodecahedron based puzzles. I'v been drooling over it ever since. Now mf8 have release a furth dodecahedral puzzle to production and still no sign of the deeper cut corner-turning dodecahedron.

By the way, nice work on the Ice Purple Starminx II. I will be getting one ASAP!

I played with that one in October. Believe me, you DON'T want it. The tiny bits still fall out. It is not anywhere near ready for sale. Keep your pants on, you'll get it.

Didn't want to post a whole new topic to ask, but since this is being released, any news on mf8's DeFTI (That whole "Eitan's Star" thing)? I was hoping for a near-Christmas release.

5 days later....

I was asking about the DeFTI though. Different puzzle. Didn't know it was the same case as the Rex dodecahedron.

Thanks to a recent kafuffal all puzzle releases have been put on hold. We have to beat the KO's to the market and even that doesn't work now does it...we are still accused of making KO's. Oh what a tangled web we weave....

put on hold: don't say things like that. Not now. Not here. Sigh.
kafuffal: What the heck...? I had difficulties looking that up. You never know what words might come along your way.

So anyone accused this very puzzle, the face turning Starminx sold here as a KO?
If you don't want to explain this context more detailed to prevent some more kafuffalish discussions and arguments here in the forum I would be perfectly fine and understand.

I think she meant kerfuffel: ker·fuf·fle/kərˈfəfəl/
Noun:
A commotion or fuss.

If they have been put on hold what does this mean about those who have pre-ordered the Starminx?

I got a tracking number for my Starminx 4 days ago...

I've never received a tracking number from any HKnowstore purchase I have ever made.

I'd imagine it's due to the shipping you selected. You'd probably only get one if you chose registered mail.

Guess I didn't realize there were options

Nope, I'm waiting for 2 seperate HKNowStore orders. A starminx and a 5x5x4. I used the free shipping option for both and received 2 seperate tracking numbers.

Isn't this in the wrong forum? I thought Marketplace was only for auctions and requests. It seems like all the new mass produced puzzle release threads, like the dino, 3D gear cube and such are all posted to New Puzzles, or at least General Puzzle Topics. I tried to post a release thread letting people know this was available in New Puzzles and it was pulled. I never go in here as I never really sell anything or look at what others are selling. Can we get this moved for more visibility?

Policy is to keep it all in one. This was posted here first so here is where it will stay.
Pretty much as a rule of thumb, when you are discussing a new puzzle that is in a shop, it ends up in marketplace (not eBay though) if it is a puzzle you made it's in new puzzles.

Yes, we have the shipping options, normal airmail and registered airmail.
What ever shipments you chose, you should receive a email notification about the parcel dispatch from paypal.
If not having received the email notification, you can check with paypal transaction for details, or check with us.

Be kindly informed that most of the starminx II order has been post in these 2 days. Hope you all can receive this fantastic puzzle soon.
Cheers. ^^

For those who have gotten their Starminx, can you please tell us what you think about it? Post a video maybe?
It will be appreciated.

Thanks Rox for the info about the Rex Dodecahedron. If it falls apart like you said it did, then no...

I ordered the Ice Purple Starminx on November 22nd; my tracking number came November 25th. Where do I put it in [Hongkong Post RBnnnnnnnnnHK - "n" are decimal digits] to track my package?

Try HK Post site for this one, or this site if you have more packages from various destinations coming in at the same time.

Funny, I ordered the black Starminx from eBay and got a tracking number without an extra charge for registering the package.

Yesterday, I have received and stickered my ft Starminx in black.
It came with the same stickers as the Dino Dodecahedron and it has the identical size.
It looks ridiculously huge (40 mm edge length) compared with TomZ's Mini.
It turns not so good as I had hoped. I have two Minis and the second turns better than the mass-produced.
I bet that TomZ's Medium (30 mm edge length) is much better than this one. (But I do not own a Medium.)
As you might expect, catching of the tips is the problem.
If you have ever solved a ft Starminx, and your flow of moves was interrupted by a serious catch, you now what I'm talking about
The Starminx V1 is such a beast to solve and it becomes very hard if you get lost in the middle of a move sequence due to a catch.
By now, I have broken it in for several hours and lubricated it once. Maybe, it will still improve a bit in the future.

At a corner of the dodecahedron the tips of six pieces are meeting (3 edges and 3 triangular tips.)
TomZ has made the triangles a bit smaller. Mf8 has obviously given beauty a higher priority than turning quality.

I do NOT say that it is a bad puzzle, but I think it could be much better.

Hi Konrad,


Yes, I agree. I'm not satisfied with this puzzle. ( face turning starminx)

I lubricated this with silicone spray. But it helps not much.
Are you able make 4-5 twists without decompose the puzzle in its pieces ?
I put this puzzle far away. It makes no fun to spent the most time to do a very accurate movement.

But I want not grumble. From all of my puzzles this ist the only one that has such bad quallity.

Cheers,
Andrea

To be honest, I don't believe these reviews do any justice to this puzzle. For my one, it is next to impossible to pop, excusing the center pieces. I've tried to pop it with no success. When I first got the puzzle it was quite stiff, but after a solve it has broken in fairly nicely and although a little stiff, this is to be expected, plus I haven't lubed it or readjusted the tensions yet. Catching does occur, but nothing that has caused me to lose my way mid-algorithm. That bit's been down to the fact that it can be quite confusing when visualising the puzzle, and I only lost track once when reversing my setup moves.

Thanks for the reviews on this puzzle. I had it on my list, but have now crossed it off. I'd rather spend my $42 on other puzzles that do not have these quality control issues. Maybe they will come out with a better version.

Please, I want to be fair. You should take my sentence seriously:The puzzle has never popped. My review was a comparison with TomZ's Mini Starminx (25 mm). I had expected a better mass-produced puzzle and was surprised that my Mini is better
I think, if Tom would have teamed up with mf8, we would have something close to perfect

All in all I'm closer to Luke than to Andrea. If you have never touched a ft Starminx, I repeat "this is not a bad puzzle".

Hi Friends,

I have recieved my FT Starminx also. The clunkiness spoken of, in my opinion is comparable to the Pyraminx Crystal (but exacerbated by a more complex mechanism). It does break in a bit after a few twists, at first I was disappointed, but it is performing much better now. A tip for lubrication is to take a centre cap off and give it a half-turn and lubricate in the place where the screw was (as well as the usual spots).

Mine does `half-pop`the Pyraminx Crystal edge will come unseated, but I can push it back in place easily, and it only happens if I am clumsy. It's not perfect, but it I am happy to own it, and I think it will further improve with more breaking in, I remember being unhappy with the Crazy Megaminx when I first got it, but now that it is broken in, I would call that perfect.. so give it time and lubrication.

I agree totally with this, I don't know why they didn't consult him (maybe they did?). Tom has a lot of experience and great designs in this area. I for one would rather pay a few more dollars, with some royalties going to Tom and have a `perfect` puzzle, than a `near perfect puzzle`.

I would recomend this puzzle . I am having a lot of fun with it, it is not `perfect` out of the box (and I haven't played with it long enough to break it in- it is improving all the time), watch the sharp bits, but there are certainly `worse` turning puzzles out there (with less complex mechanisms).

Cheers,
Burgo.

After solving it this afternoon, I don't know if the mechanism will improve, I have to say.. "more people will complain about it". Due to the kinds of sequences (and setups) I had to come up with, it is a major pain when the thing catches half way through something (and you have to go to the other side of the cube to poke the piece back in). You are running blind a lot of the time and it could easily mean a restart due to the mech. It didn't for me this time, but I certainly made a few mistakes because of it. I don't want to complain because I am really glad to just have this cube , and I don't want to discourage people from buying it. The main thing that happens is one of the pointy triangles will catch and lift an edge piece out of its track and you have to push it back down.

Cheers,
Burgo.

The conversation has stopped and I have kept going .
Do you think that it is possible that MF8 has intentions to make the other type of cut in the Starminx?? It would be an awesome series then, I was just looking at the current 2 (they look great together) and had a feeling that something was missing.. anyone else had that feeling?
Cheers,
Burgo.

So, who will be the first modder to come up with a solution? Sounds to melike you could ever-so-carefully shave down the triangular pieces (not sure which way-from the tip, the base, or the sides). Also, edge-turning would be awesome!!

Edit: actually, Starminx 3 is pretty pro too...so, yeah, full series would be good. Watched the original videos again and saw the size of the Starminx 2. Man, that thing is HUGE!! If that's what it takes for MF8 to make a good version then I'm game! Imagine pulling that thing out of your backpack at school or whatever and just standing there looking all smug while everybody's jaw drops and you just think "yeah, I'm just that good".

[/thread derailing]

I think all that needs to be done is to sand down the star points a teeny bit, so that they don't catch other pieces. I think that would fix the lock up issues, but I will probably will not be doing it as I am very happy with the turning. I will be doing a full disassembley and lubrication, though.

When I receive mine I plan on playing with it a bit, seeing where the issues are and tackling them with my exact-o knife. then adjustments, probably won't lubricate it though, I ordered an ice purple, don't really want the discoloration from lubrication.

wish it would hurry up and get here

Yeah, just cutting off a little tiny bit of the tip would help a lot. I'll let you go ahead and do it first though.

after a few days the the pieces of the faceturning starminx are more loose, so the pieces don't go out. But sometimes the pentagram tips block some other pieces. If I twist accurate and slowly it's possible to use this puzzle now.