YJ FengHuoLun/Windmill

YJ FengHuoLun/Windmill

The YJ FengHuoLun, better known as the Windmill Cube, is a shape mod based on the classic 3x3 cube. Inside, it uses a standard 3x3 mechanism. Only the layer cuts are different: they are set at an angle, so after a few moves the cube loses its cubic shape and the pieces form asymmetric shapes. In one configuration it looks like a windmill, hence the English name.

You don't need any new algorithms to solve the FengHuoLun. The method you use for a regular 3x3 cube is enough. The challenge lies elsewhere: the pieces have different shapes and sizes, so you have to pay attention not only to the colors but also to whether a piece fits the shape of its neighbors. If you know how to solve a 3x3 and want some variety, this is a good first shape mod, because it asks you to adjust your thinking rather than learn from scratch.

The pieces hold together well, and you can set the tension with the screws under the center caps, just like in typical speedcubes. The pieces have rounded edges, so the cube offers decent corner cutting for a puzzle of this type. Turning is smooth and lockups are rare. It is still a puzzle for casual solving, not a cube for high TPS. It has no magnets and is not a WCA event.

The FengHuoLun is a good choice for collectors, for people who enjoy simple 3x3 modifications, and as an affordable gift for someone who can already solve a regular cube. The cube is available in three color versions: black body, white body and stickerless bright.

Specifications:

1. type: shape mod based on a 3x3 cube, non-magnetic
2. manufacturer: YJ
3. size: approx. 57 mm
4. weight: approx. 100 g
5. tension adjustment: adjustment screws
6. allowed in official competitions: no

The set includes:

1. the puzzle