A little while ago I tried to buy the crazy 3x3 plus set in coloured plastic and none of you hard-nosed collectors would sell to me.
http://twistypuzzles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=23340

I had been advised that a judicious choice of just 2 of the puzzles will allow the whole set to be created as needed using just a screwdriver. So, seeing as the all plastic ones were unavailable to me (sob!) I have ordered the Earth and Uranus puzzles which will provide me with a total of 6 of each internal piece and allow any of the cubes to be made.

It has suddenly (and to my horror) dawned on me that the black plastic version may not have the same mechanism. Does anyone know whether what I plan is possible with these?

If I have to buy the rest of the series then I should have done it in one go for Calvin's bulk discount! Plus! Of course, the present Mrs S (she's doing ok for a first wife!) may well murder me in my sleep and dispose of the body if she sees me buy another 6 identical appearing cubes!

I hope one of you can reassure me and hopefully save me from an untimely (and probably rather painful) end!

They will be interchangable with `themselves`. I have heard that MF8+Dayan have improved the centre caps, so these parts may not be interchangable with the previous versions.

Cheers,
Burgo.

I think you lost me!
Does the improved centre cap mean that I cannot take them off to unscrew the inner pieces to exchange them?

No, they had a slight problem with the centre caps not staying in place. I think they just made them hold on firmer.. they still come off.
You will not have a problem doing what you want to do.. (The factory will be doing it to make the different planets anyway).

Cheers,
Burgo.

you will not have a problem.

Thanks guys! I really didn't want to be "forced" into buying the rest of the series - my puzzle budget is quite high but I have really blown it this year!
....And it's only April!