This is my 4th build/mod.
Here's a Java Screenshot

Here is how I built one:
http://www.geocities.com/marksunterstorey/battenberg/BattenbergBuild.html
I am awaiting stickers to complete this project, but it's fully functional. The stickering pattern gives a puzzle that is one step harder than a SuperSkewb or Skewb Ultimate.

beautiful start. can't wait to see it finished

viewtopic.php?t=8269

I look forward to seeing it! (Have been for a while :p)

You say this is your 4th? What else have you made, apart from the SuperSkewb.

Looks cool!

My first was not a twisty puzzle. It was a puzzle I invented called "Arrow" akin to TopSpin. There is a Java Version on my website - level 3 is the one I built.

No 2 was a puzzle I designed called Barber's Pole. It was meant to be a cylinder but in the end I made a 2x2x2 octagonal barrel from an Eastsheen 2x2x2 kit. I sold it on eBay.


No 3 was the SuperSkewb Sticker mod.

That looks nice! I hope you post all your further auctions here :p

i haven't put much much thought into it, but how is it more difficult than a skewb ultimate?

There are some notes on my build link reproduced below:

This puzzle solves in a similar way to the Skewb Ultimate but in addition:

* the top four edges can be in the correct location (as distinct from orientation) while the bottom four are not. This is not possible on an Ultimate.
* the diamond faces can be 90deg out of phase which cannot occur on an Ultimate. This requires a better than normal understanding of the sequences that move faces.
* an odd number of faces can be 180deg out of phase - this is not possible on an Ultimate but is quite easily solved using conjugation.
* the shape changes can hinder your concentration.

aha. i understand. there's a parity because of the sticker layout.

I hate to break it to you, but if I'm looking at this right then this puzzle has been done before. I believe this puzzle is an X Block, first created by Ryan Thompson. Looks good though, keep up the good work.

viewtopic.php?t=8269

He mentions the X-Block on his website. I believe he might be doing a different sticker variation.

what did you use to cut the sheets of plastic?

I used a junior hacksaw and a small handfile - about 15 minutes per piece.



I had mentioned this in my build notes and p|astic kindly posted the thread number further up.
This puzzle was conceived as a 2-colour sticker variation on a Skewb - this is the essence of the puzzle and it does add a few extra solving problems. With this particular pattern it seemed fun to extend the Skewb (at this stage I had not seen an X-Block - I came across it on YouTube after writing my Java Version but before I started my build). I fully acknowledge Ryan's precedence (and superior build).

My avatar is another two sticker variation - I didn't twig till I pressed the shuffle button

Your avatar seems to be unscrambleable, is it not?

I long, long, time ago... I started my mentle block. It did not go good. I finally took a hammer to my appoxie sculp and got one ugly skewb back. It will have a new fate as a 6 color X-block. Thanks for the tutorial!

I have put the finishing touches to this puzzle.

Build notes:
http://www.geocities.com/marksunterstorey/battenberg/BattenbergBuild.html
Youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz44YFvct-Q
Try it:
http://www.geocities.com/marksunterstorey/Games/Battenberg/Skewb.htm

Since there is a way to put shape changing puzzle on line. Now I wish they would be all on line.