Slider H

Designer: Benjamin Heidt

This puzzle measures: 75 mm x 75 mm x 80 mm

Material: Peruvian Walnut, Acacia, Padauk

Benjamin Heidt wrote about it:
“Packing puzzles often amaze with their apparent simplicity. A box and a few pieces that need to be placed inside. Can’t be that difficult, can it? This design has been continuously developed over a long period of time (and in close consultation with the great Pelikan team), so that an exceptional example can now be added to the “packing puzzle family.” We have decided not to ship the puzzle fully assembled. The reason for this is that this conceals an essential step that is crucial for solving the puzzle. (Be prepared to be surprised and keep the name of the puzzle in mind.) You receive the puzzle in such a way that one piece is held separately, while the other pieces form a closed, light (acacia) layer in the box. When you remove the pieces (which won’t be challenging yet), you’re faced with a problem and wonder how on earth you’re supposed to fit all the pieces in… The task is to sort all the pieces into the partially blocked box, while the top layer must shine in bright red padauk. Some sorting and reshuffling is required to fit the six loose pieces into the box where one piece is already fixed in. Can you find the unique solution? Pelikan did a great job selecting the woods. So, once you’ve solved the puzzle, you can enjoy the combination of beautiful padauk and dark walnut.”

Kevin Sadler wrote about it:
“Another stunning looking puzzle from Benjamin Heidt. This chunky 7.5×7.5x8cm puzzle has been beautifully made by the Pelikan team from Padauk, Acacia and Peruvian Walnut. It is a good solid heavy puzzle and arrives with one piece outside the box which has an H shaped opening. Benjamin has taken the basic Soma cube pieces, one has been glued inside the box and another pair have been altered and combined into one complex piece.
 
The aim is to insert the pieces inside so that only one colour is visible from above when finished. There is a second solution that does not have this restriction and this will be a nice extra challenge for you. I started placing pieces inside the box straight away and failed to pack the cube before I realised that something was amiss. Have a close look at the trapped piece inside and you quickly realise that there is a gap underneath the captive piece that cannot be reached by sliding pieces in from above. There is something very interesting built into the mechanism of this puzzle which Pelikan have made with extreme precision – it is a marvel to play with and once you have realised what is possible then you are on your way to a solution. It might take you a while! I hadn’t solved it in time for my review post but after an intensive 4 days afterwards, managed to get it together. The sequence of moves (along with the cleverly hidden mechanism) is simply wonderful! This is another must have puzzle.”