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Month: November 2014
First Encounters: Square 1/ Cube 21
Well, I asked my friend if I could take his Square 1 from home, and he said I could. So I took it home, scrambled, and started to try to solve it, with no avail. Here is what I have learnt so far:
Only turns on the R, U and D side
Can be bandaged.
looks like a 3×3, with bandaged E slice edges, wrongly cut pieces and no centre.
Notation is as below:
a ‘/’ means R2
(x, y)
the letters are replaced by numbers, and one kite block is 2 (bigger, 60 Deg. ) and one triangle block is 1 (smaller, 30 Deg.)
So, 60*4 + 30*4 = 360
That is all I know! So far, I have not managed to solve it, and is tiredly looking at some tutorials that seems to have faulty algorithms, trying to solve the cube.
So that is my first encounters, and I might pos a tutorial if I manage to solve it. Tomorrow I will bring home the 2-Layered Super Square 1.
It was a short post, but I hadn’t much to say, except ‘Oh my god how do I solve this”.
Thanks for reading,
Sean.
Cube Comparison: Moyu AoLong V2 vs. Moyu Weilong V2
Well, this is the showdown between the Moyu Weilong V2, and the Moyu AoLong V2. Also, the AoLong is NOT V3 of the Weilong. The Moyu Dianma probably is though.
OK. Let’s compare the facts!
The WeiLong was made in 2013, whereas the AoLong was designed back in 2011, but was not produced until much later.
The Weilong has removable torpedoes, but the AoLong has the torpedoes as pare of the edge piece.
The Aolong has more rounded pieces, and therefore has much better corner cutting. To find out just how much, Click Here. The Weilong, however, is not so good at corner cutting.
The feeling of both cubes are just a little bit crunchy, with a hint of blocky (for the WeiLong) , and something that is like, but not entirely unlike smoothness, which is actually an awesome combination. And then you add the ‘lube controlled noise’ in, in which the noise made by the cube is controlled by how much lube you put in the cube.
The Weilong does not need lube for it to be fast; I have never lubed it, and both tensions are perfect for me out of the box. The AoLong, however, needs lube. The AoLong was, in my opinion, made for Maru Lube. 2 drops. Never more than 3. I learnt that the hard way, so do not attempt it, or you will have a gummy, yet quiet type of cube that will slow your solves for about 2~5 days.
On the AoLong, pops rarely happen, but there is even fewer pops on the Weilong. Pop rate on Aolong is probably 1.3%, but the Weilong is 1.1%. Minor differences.
Overall, I would recommend the AoLong, not only for its controllability, but because of its acceptance of overshooting, undershooting, whatever. I need that for my very rough turning style, and the effortless 45 Deg. corner cutting does not chip away its glory. Of course, many people still use the WeiLong, because it is a very fast cube, don’t underestimate it, but you have to turn very smoothly. If you are a smooth turner, buy the Weilong, because, under smooth turning, the WeiLong is undoubtably faster than the AoLong. Everybody else should use the AoLong, which, under not too much abuse, could almost match the Weilong (and I’m talking 0.xx seconds or less. Not that much of a difference!)
So that was my comparison. Except for the last paragraph, I hope the comparison was not too biased on one cube or another, and I also hope you enjoyed this!
–Sean
YJ Mirror Blocks Review
Well, this is the review on the YJ Mirror Blocks. Hope you enjoy!
Overall Score: 95
Overall Grade: A+
Ok. When you get the cube out of the box, and at first sight, it is pretty. That is an easy B+ For presentation. The stylish black body earns it the 40%, the orange seam earns 20%, and the
The Front Box Art
information and white cubes is OK, but could be better, so a 15% is rewarded. And the cutout part is there, so it gains 15% for its work. Less is, in this sense more, because the less is the cutting of the paper, and more is gaining you more points!
Box: 90%. Very well done!
Now let’s look at the cube itself. It is gold (or silver) bodied, and the good quality stickers ups the quality score by 20% (Unlike my ghost cube) and, upon closer examination of the cube, finding it has different mechanics than a normal Rubik’s (unlike my ghost cube). The mechanism is something between a standard Rubik’s mechanism and a YJ Yulong mechanism, I give the quality score a further 30% for it
. The design is also good, in the way that no part can be bandaged, which is, in my view, quite a feat, and so I decided to give the quality score by a boost of 40%. It also responds well to lube, so another 10% is awarded.
Cube Quality: 100% Full Marks!
The turning isn’t that bad, and it can cut 1 1/4 cubies with ease, just like a speedcube. Although this puzzle is factory made, we still have to remember this is a mod. Therefore, the things this puzzle can accomplish is incredible. 70% up. This puzzle very obviously shapeshifts, but I still want to give this cube credit, so 20% more on the Tech Specifications score. The blocky, just slightly crunchy feel of the cube makes every turn enjoyable. For someone who does not like noisy cubes, this came at a surprise to me. My theory is that it fits well with the rough ‘n’ tough theme this cube has. I give it 5% for this nice surprise.
Tech Specifications: 95%. Super! This is such a good turner…
Now for my personal opinion. Below is pure opinion and should be taken into consideration, not as a complete judge of whether this cube is good or not.
I think this cube looks great when scrambled, and looks even better when solved. It reminds me of this building, but I can’t remember now which. My gold stickers are shiny, like real gold. That is like a summary of what I think about it when it is lying on my table. When I am solving it, I find sometimes it is a bit hard to turn, due to the sizing. But then, no hard shape mod is that good to turn. This isn’t speedsolving! This is fun! Though speed solving is, undoubtably, fun, this is also fun, in another way. My final judgement: Get this. You won’t regret it.
So. Overall grade/score algorithm:
(90+100+95)/3 = 95
Overall Score: 95
Overall Grade: A+
Let me know if you like this form of review or what I should improve on, at the ‘Contact me’ page! Remember, all your feedback is highly valued!
Happy Puzzling,
Sean.
10 Reasons That Almost prove that The Moyu Aolong is Supreme
1. The Moyu AoLong is made by Moyu. That’s enough to make anybody fill with confidence..
2. Corner cutting 1 and 3/4 cubies effortlessly.
3. Reverse Corner Cutting just over one cubie! That is amazing.
4. The gaps are more rounded, and looks awesome. They also help a lot in the corner cutting.
5. It is smooth like butter on butter on oil on a banana peel.
6. Responds like fish and water to lube (I have tried Z Lube and Maru Lube. Both work a treat!)
7. Feliks Zemdegs, CrazyBadCuber, JRCuber all really like the cube, and use them as their mains, except for CrazyBadCuber.
8. Suits every turning style, even the worst (me) turners!
9. Super Awesome ‘Volume Control’ where you can almost literally control the sound of the cube!
10. This is minor, though very important: Easily removable logos! Just peel off! So easy.
How to solve the Ghost Cube
Well, the ghost cube looks… intimidating at first sight, but upon careful inspection, it is actually a 3×3, curiously hidden in the form of the devil. What I mean by a 3×3 is that there is a centre, surrounded by 4 edges, with 4 corners, around the edges. That is obvious, but it is crucial in the fact that it defines how to solve this. So, let’s get started!
upon careful inspection, it is actually a 3×3, curiously hidden in the form of the devil.
First steps first. scramble the ghost cube. Don’t be afraid. This is a tutorial. Done? Good. Let’s get started!
Don’t be afraid to scramble it!
Good. Ok. Now find the symmetrical 3-faced centre.
The centre you should start on is this 3-faced symmetrical one!
Next, match up the logos, along with the long piece that goes with it, also the right side. but leave the bottom blank.
Align the logos, then the symmetrical long piece!
Now , using the bottom face as a free face, align all centres. Here is a pic of what the centres, when oriented and the first layer turned, looks like:
Centres aligning…
Now solve the bottom ‘layer’, and after that….
WARNING: HARDEST INTUITIVE PART
solve the first two layers.
Pictures to help you:
This is No.1 of what the F2L looks like.
Ok. Go take a break and celebrate, go and show others what you have done, ect.
Time for celebration! Also, first piggy!
CELEBRATION WITH PIGGY
Now, time to use the algorithms.
F (R U R’ U’) F’ (let’s call this fruruf) flips an edge, and the edge to the left of it.
R U R’ U R U2 R’ (Sune) flips around corners!
Here is how I orient the pieces:
1. keep flipping edges by FRURUF, until all are oriented (you should know how to do this, if you know how to solve a Rubik’s cube.
2. Keep doing Sune, by the beginner’s method also.
This is the correctly oriented edges of the cube!
After all are oriented, just do the normal PLL algorithms to switch the pieces around!
Yes! Finally Solved!
Happy Solving and I hope this helped,
Sean.
Cubetopia 