BioTIC Interlocking Cube
$75.00| DESIGNER: | Andrew Crowell |
| MATERIAL: | Sapele, Walnut |
| RELEASE DATE: | 10.1.2019 |
| EDITION: | 73 Copies Released |
| SIZE: | 3" |
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BioTic is a BEAST! 28 total moves and nine rotations are required to solve it. Designed by Andrew Crowell, these fascinating "Turning Interlocking Cubes" take it to the next level. Instead of straightforward linear moves, these designs require rotations during the solution process. Construction is outstanding, with shouldered joinery where side grain gluing is not possible, and detailed bevels which flow around the shouldered joints for a uniform appearance. Each puzzle signed and dated. This puzzle is shipped disassembled. |
I bought BioTIC because I have to collect all the TICs and Eric kindly put it aside to later combine with another order. It’s a lovely and properly chunky puzzle which has been constructed very robustly. It’s a serious challenge which is still kicking my butt! Hopefully I’ll solve it soon. Thanks Eric!
This was quite a challenge! BurrTools will tell you where the pieces go, but how do you get them there? There are three "easy" pieces and three "hard" pieces, plus the frame piece. First I concentrated on just getting each hard piece to its final resting location. This took several weeks, taken in many 15 minute sessions. The the real hard part comes, where you have to figure out the order to insert the hard pieces. For a while, I could get all but the last hard piece in. Finally, I figured out how to get it in place. A well-made and challenging puzzle. Bravo!
The BioTIC comes disassembleld, as an assembly challenge for the puzzler. It is far from a packing puzzle, but BioTIC offers some very interesting move sequences. The first challenge is to find out how the assembly looks like, which is guided very well by the piece shapes, and then the remaining challenge is to actually assemble the pieces. Determining the order in which the pieces go in, their orientation and position while entered into the frame, and then the sequence to bring them into their goal positions are some nice challenges. All these are supported by the excellent craftsmanship, so you don't have to be afraid of breaking something, but can concentrate on finding the rotations. A great puzzle, also as a disassembly challenge!
