So I need some help with the last layer of the Gem 2.
I would appreciate tips and general suggestions, but NO ALGORITHMS.
All algorithms should be invisible. Do this by making the text white like this

My cube looks like this:


Thanks!

-Doug

Okay, almost solved. All I need now is to do the swap of the 2 cross piece things.

-Doug

Solved!
Thanks!

-Doug

Congratulations. I enjoy the Dayan Gem 2. It's a nice step up from the Gem 1, but not as involved as the 3 or 4. I've seen some complaints, but mine turns well. I'm intrigued, because from your photo, we use a different solve sequence. Here is mine (just an overview, no algs):

[SPOILER]
*Place rectangles on all faces using edge turns (they are extended centres)
*Make bottom cross using edges (the symmetrical triangular pieces that have 4 stickers, including 2 tiny triangles)
*Insert middle layer edges using standard 3x3 face turns (refer to the tiny triangles for colours).
*Do 3x3 last layer alg to fix the last layer edges
[/SPOILER]

I would be interested to see your sequence.

I did a sort of reduction to 3x3. I solved the entire first layer (by layer, I mean 3x3 side), and then did the rest of the curvy copter. I couldn't, however, solve the last 2 cross piece things.
I proceeded to do F2L, OLL, and PLL. I then orient the centers like a super cube. The problem was that I had 1 center left undone, so I had to find a cycle for those pieces.
For my cycle, I just did some setup moves, and then a quick and easy [1,1] commutator to get a 3 cycle.
For the cross pieces, I ended up doing a 5 cycle. This included the 4 pieces on the blue face, and the 1 piece on the orange face. The edge that connected the orange and blue face is S, and the blue face is U. The cycle was just S, U over and over again. After ~8 times, the cycle was complete.

Brandon told me that sometimes, if you reduce to a 3x3, you can get an unsolvable state. I don't think that this is possible if you do what I did- make the entire first layer, 3x3 AND copter.

Also, special thanks to Brandon for helping me out over in IRC

-Doug

I have solved it now ~100 times, and I will restate my method.

1. First layer cross pieces
2. First layer triangles, using the 3x3 edges as refrence
3. Middle layer cross pieces
4. Middle layer triangles
5. 3x3 subset (edges and centers)
6. Super cube centers
7. Possible 3 cycle of triangles

A word about the Last Layer. When orienting edges, you can get 1 edge flipped incorrectly. What I do here goes like this.

1. Do the parity algorithm for the helicopter cube. This is the case with 2 corners swapped. It involves jumbling.
2. Do the 5 cycle I mentioned above for the 2 cross pieces which are now swapped.

-Doug