I just spoke with Puzzle Master. They will not get any gold pieces again. However, they are getting the silver set, hopefully in two weeks, at a cheaper price than the gold.
Just arrived today! The silver set is available at Puzzle Master for $279 and when I bought earlier this week, they had 95 sets in stock.
So excited to play! Excited to display these too.
Nice! I have this set as well. It will probably be extremely easy for you as a seasoned puzzler, but it's still a nice one to add to your collection. One thing I like about them is that even non-puzzlers can open them fairly quickly. It's nice to have some around that don't require hours of puzzling to open.
That's what I'm finding as well. My wife and I sat at the table and took turns with the various pieces. She had the knight open in seconds. I opened the rook moments later (yes, she got the first victory!), and the king didn't take long either. Three down, three to go.
These are a bit of a departure from the usual Hanayama fare in a few ways. And I'm not sure it's a great departure. I love the original puzzles for their weight and solid feel. These chess pieces seem to be more fragile. The top of one of the pieces popped off with a little force. So don't use force with these puzzles!
Also, the secret mechanism for these pieces all seem to be very similar so far. And they are nothing like a typical Hanayama solve.
Still, I think they look amazing, and we are having a good time trying to figure them all out.
Just a few comments on an old puzzle and a new puzzle.
The old one is the Cast Cage. Any review I've ever read says part of the solution is figuring out which opening the star will go through. Guess what. It can go through any of them. Four puzzles for the price of one.
The new one is the Cast Cake. If the layers of the cake don't come tumbling out in cascade style you're not doing it right. Well OK, you've still solved the puzzle if you can get the layers out at all, just not elegantly.
Peter
GunmetalUnopened Aqua,TurquoiseOpened Blue, Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Opened Black V1 + V2, Orange, Red, Titanium, Lime Opened HandMade Prototypes too scary to reassemble Gold CE set in Clear Sleeves
For Cast Cake I found that I can take the pieces out by
Spoiler:
simply holding it open side down and shaking it a bit.
Getting them back in is a lot more difficult.
Needs to be updated! SE #05: BU Solved GR Solved BR Solved AG(V1) Not Solved AG(V2) Solved AU Won't Be Solved TI Missed
LE #05: BL Solved RD Solved OR Not Solved HM Not Solved LI Ordered
Gold Plated CE #05: BU Ordered GR Ordered BR Ordered AG Ordered AU Ordered TI Ordered
I've seen that work for at least one other Hanayama puzzle. Didn't think it would work with Cake. Will try tomorrow.
I had initial success with Cake by trying what I thought was logical, but I was having trouble gripping a layer to be removed. After fine tuning that technique they just all fell out at once.
edit: Tried suggested technique for 5 min. No luck.
Peter
GunmetalUnopened Aqua,TurquoiseOpened Blue, Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Opened Black V1 + V2, Orange, Red, Titanium, Lime Opened HandMade Prototypes too scary to reassemble Gold CE set in Clear Sleeves
Looking at this thread briefly I may get cake next. I have a few of these series, love them all since they are cheaper so a 10 minute solve does not hurt so bad lol
Stuck on enigma now! Over 3 days short bursts. I get to about half way in my uneducated opinion.
Did nut bolt last which took longer than it should though reversing the nuts was easy...
Anyone try the new heart arrow one yet? Only level 3 though.
Sorry for the necro but these are really great puzzles for the price.
Seeking:
Black extreme (not merc), Red (extreme), Ruby, Peach
Ramisi5, devil isis, devil copernisis (or other harder variants)