From cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Thu Mar 18 13:40:33 1999 Return-Path: Received: from sun28.aic.nrl.navy.mil (sun28.aic.nrl.navy.mil [132.250.84.38]) by mc.lcs.mit.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1-mod) with SMTP id NAA12366 for ; Thu, 18 Mar 1999 13:40:33 -0500 (EST) Precedence: bulk Errors-To: cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Message-Id: <36F09AFF.752D8854@ibm.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 22:19:44 -0800 From: "Jin 'Time Traveler' Kim" Reply-To: chrono@ibm.net To: skouknudsen@get2net.dk Cc: cube-lovers@ai.mit.edu Subject: Some more Rubik's Revenge notes References: <199902251022.LAA13413@bednorz.get2net.dk> Check that, the Korea cube is definitely of poorer quality than either Macau or Hong Kong yet at the same time has its own merits. The reason that the cube felt more like it was going to break was because the middle "wing" cubelets and corner cubelets are "hollow." The material is also softer, but somehow it feels like the corner pieces are sturdier than the earlier ones made in Macau and Hong Kong. I am assuming it was made later because seldom are puzzles made of higher quality in later runs, especially when the tooling is probably more expensive and when the print run is so short. But all 3 versions wear the same "(c) I.T.C. 1982" (Ideal Toy Company?) with the different "Made in..." markings. Anyway, the puzzle was easily disassembled without the need to remove a screw (There IS no screw unlike the others). Just like popping open a standard cube. Looser tolerances went into making this piece so this was not a difficult task. Like I said, the corner cubelets actually feel sturdier than the others but the overall the plastic used is much softer and tolerances aren't tight. Of course, this makes for an easier turning puzzle but tends to "stick" a lot because of the hollow pieces. If these "hollows" were somehow smoothed in, this would be a pleasure to work on instead of the stiffer (and more break prone) Macau and Hong Kong cubes. As it is, the center windows tend to bind easily against each other and I think ultimately it will break just as easily (if not more easily) than the Macau or Hong Kong deals. Oh yeah, the Korea Revenge also feels slightly lighter than the Macau or Hong Kong cubes for obvious reasons. Hmmm... I think I'll cc the cube list with this. Might be interesting to some. I wonder how I could squeeze some of this into the Cube FAQ... -- Jin "Time Traveler" Kim chrono@ibm.net http://www.slamsite.com/chrono '95 PGT - SCPOC