If you haven’t seen it, I recommend watching the making of video first:
The following article is taken from the original announcement on TwistyPuzzles.com in 11/2013.
The Radiolarian puzzles have all been made, but my first version of the Radio Star (Radiolarian 11) was a total failure.
I started it in September of 2012, so I’ve been working on it on and off for over a year.
Here’s the thread on the topic of the failed first version:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=25248&hilit=radiolarian+11
The new second version is a success!
There’s a long, long story behind this one. I did record some making-of material that I may cut into a short video sometime. The sad truth is that there may be more time in this puzzle than I put into the Petaminx.
I call it the Radio Star because this puzzle is to an icosahedron what a StarMinx is to a dodecahedron. It is the cut depth at which the corners have fully disappeared.
As you can see, the puzzle is huge. The edge lengths are 102mm. It uses the “Shells on Rails” mechanism, which combines traditional shells with void-style rails internally. This allows me to build a much deeper puzzle internally for larger stable corners, and then go shallower on the outside using shells.
Here’s a part that illustrates the concept.
The Radiolarians have had two types of jumbling. This one is the first that I have noticed the ability to double-jumble. Both types of jumbling can be set up on opposing faces before being jumbled simultaneously. I’m sure Radiolarian 10 must also have this ability. There are pictures of this below.
