Calvins Puzzle Devil Twin 5x5x5 Black Body (mod)

Calvins Puzzle Devil Twin 5x5x5 Black Body (mod)

On the outside it looks like an ordinary 5x5 cube with a black body, but inside something completely different is going on. The Calvins Puzzle Devil Twin 5x5x5 is a shape mod from the Evil Twin family. It combines a 4x4 mechanism with a 3x3 mechanism, just like the Fused Cube, and the added pieces make it look like a 5x5 cube. This puzzle is not meant for speedcubing. It is for people who enjoy hidden moves and cubes that look different from how they actually work.

What's the trick?

The two cubes inside have their axes of rotation offset from each other, so the core is off-axis. Some turns belong to the 4x4 mechanism and some to the 3x3. After a few moves the layers stop lining up and the cube starts to change shape (shape shifting). Some turns then become blocked (bandaging) until you return the pieces to the correct position. The challenge is not only to work out which moves are possible at all. You also have to be careful not to lock up the cube.

Shops selling this model describe it as turning smoothly. Still, don't expect it to behave like a modern speedcube. It has no magnets and no tension adjustment, and the stops on blocked layers come from the design itself, so they are not a defect of your copy.

Build

The Devil Twin is a mod, meaning a cube assembled from existing mechanisms and glued-on pieces rather than moulded from a single mould. With this kind of construction, small differences in fit between individual copies are normal.

Who is it for?

For puzzle collectors and cubers who can confidently solve the 3x3 and 4x4 and want to take on something less predictable. It also makes an interesting display piece, as at first glance it is hard to tell apart from a regular 5x5. For a first cube, including one for a child, a classic 3x3 is a better choice.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Calvins Puzzle
• Type: shape mod (fused), Evil Twin family
• Construction: combined 4x4 and 3x3 mechanisms with glued-on pieces, shaped like a 5x5 cube
• Size: 78 mm
• Weight: approx. 247 g
• Magnets: none
• Body colour: black (Black Body)