Calvins Puzzle Carl's Bubbloid 5x5x4

Calvins Puzzle Carl's Bubbloid 5x5x4

Carl's Bubbloid 5x5x4 is a bubbloid puzzle, a cuboid that turns around its corners rather than its faces. The shape of the puzzle does not change while you solve it (shape-preserving). It was designed by Carl Hoff and David Ang together with Calvin's Puzzle. The original name of this puzzle is Bubbloid 112. We offer the version with a black body and the Calvin's and Carl logos.

How a bubbloid works

Every move is a turn around a corner, just like on the Dino Cube or Redi Cube. If you know those puzzles, you will quickly get the hang of the moves. The challenge is that the edges are not the same in every direction. In two dimensions, neighbouring moves share one edge piece, while in the third they share two. This is what sets the 5x5x4 apart from its sibling, the 4x4x5, and it is exactly why you need a different approach here than on classic corner-turning cubes.

Mechanism and turning

This is not a speedcube. Corner cutting is very limited, so the layers turn well only when they are precisely aligned. According to the manufacturer, removing the springs from the corners improves cutting. Tension is adjusted with the screws in the corners.

User opinions on how the puzzle performs straight out of the box are mixed. Some people mention stiff turning and lockups, others point to popping and loose small pieces. Patiently adjusting the tension usually helps. One recommended method is to tighten all the corners and then loosen each of them by about half a turn. So the puzzle needs some work during setup, but once it is set up well, you can solve it comfortably.

Who is it for?

For collectors of unusual puzzles and cubers who already know the Dino Cube, Redi Cube or other corner-turning puzzles and are looking for something less obvious. For a first puzzle, a gift for a younger child or speedsolving, it is better to choose something else.

Specifications

• Type: bubbloid, corner-turning cuboid (shape-preserving)
• Manufacturer: Calvin's Puzzle (design: Carl Hoff, David Ang)
• Body colour: black
• Size: approx. 65.5 mm
• Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.16 x 6.1 cm
• Weight with packaging: approx. 231 g
• Adjustment: screws and springs in the corners