JB4A · Puzzle Master

Kevin Sadler writes about JB4A: A release from Pelikan would really not be complete without one of Osanori-sans wonderful small packing puzzles. This is one of my favourites so far it is made from a gorgeously coloured and grained Bubinga and is a seriously fun challenge. As always, there is a small shape to be made (this time a 3x3x3 cube) from some pretty complex pieces with what at first looks like a rather large opening which you might think would make the puzzle much easier. However, the end result has to have the pieces completely covering up all the openings once finished and with such a big gap this really limits the options. The large hole on the top does allow initial easy insertion but these pieces are quite large and complex and then movement and access get blocked pretty quickly. Looking at the shape of the small columnar hole in the box gives an idea of what is going to be required/possible during the solve but actually doing it is another thing entirely. These puzzles look almost trivial when first picked up (especially with the large entry hole) but the reality is that they are a proper challenge for any experienced puzzler. I really enjoyed it the puzzling time for me was about 2 hours and the sense of satisfaction at the end was fabulous. Made with unparalleled quality by Pelikan. Material: Bubingo / MapleDesigner: Osanori Yamamoto