QiYi Ice Amber Windmill

QiYi Ice Amber Windmill

QiYi Ice Amber Windmill is a 3x3 shape mod puzzle from the Ice Amber series (sold as Icy Amber in some countries). The body is made of transparent plastic, and the colors come from semi-transparent colored tiles instead of regular vinyl stickers. Despite the transparency, the colors are easy to tell apart, and the tiles don't wear off as quickly as regular stickers. Once scrambled, the cube is no longer a cube, and the top and bottom layers form a shape that resembles a windmill.

How the Windmill Cube works

Inside is a 3x3 cube mechanism, but the cuts run diagonally, so the pieces have different shapes and sizes. Knowing the basic 3x3 method helps you solve it, but besides color you also have to watch the shape: a piece in the right color can still be in the wrong place if its shape doesn't fit. That's why the Windmill is often recommended as a first shape mod. The algorithms stay the same; what changes is the way you look at the cube.

Turning and what to expect

The cube has no magnets, so the layers don't align by themselves and you need to line them up more precisely than on a magnetic 3x3. According to user reviews, a scrambled cube can be hard to grip securely, and it's easy to accidentally turn the wrong layer. People who lube their own cubes also note that the center caps are harder to remove than on a typical 3x3, but it can be done with a thin tool.

Who is it for?

For anyone who can already solve a classic 3x3 and wants to try something different without spending a lot of money. It also makes a great gift for a child who has mastered the regular cube, and a nice addition to an Ice Amber series collection. It isn't suitable for timed speedcubing, because this puzzle is about brain-teasing, not TPS.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: QiYi
• Type: 3x3 shape mod (Windmill Cube), shape-shifting puzzle
• Series: Ice Amber
• Color: transparent body, colored semi-transparent tiles
• Magnets: none
• Size: approx. 60 mm