ABSTRACT
The rhombic dodecahedron shown in Figure 155 is dissected into 12 rhombic pyramids, one for each face. Each rhombic pyramid is further divided into two identical halves that could be regarded as skewed rhomboid pyramids or triangular stick segments. Not counting side-by-side pairs, there are ten different ways of joining four such blocks together, analogous to those of the Scrambled Scorpius. The nine of these that are non-symmetrical are shown. Problem: from this set of nine pieces, fi nd subsets of six that assemble into the rhombic dodecahedron. Two practical subsets are ABCDEF and ACDEFG. Either subset makes a satisfactory interlocking puzzle with only one solution and one sliding axis. Five of the pieces are common to both subsets, so an especially interesting version of the puzzle is a set of seven pieces that will construct either solution with one piece set aside. Since this is a fairly easy puzzle to make, the reader is encouraged to do so and discover these two solutions or perhaps experiment with other sizes of pieces and new combinations. The 24 blocks are sawn from 3060-90-degree triangular cross-section sticks as shown in Figure 156. If sawn accurately, they tend to align themselves properly when clustered together and held with rubber bands and tape. The desired joints are then glued selectively, one at a time. The fi nished puzzle, well-waxed and with one piece removed, can then be used as a gluing jig for the next one. Since the assembled shape of this puzzle is entirely convex, fancy woods can be used and brought to a fi ne fi nish by sanding and polishing the 12 outside faces. In combinatorial puzzles of this sort, the addition of color symmetry to an already satisfactory puzzle tends to defeat its purpose. Instead, an attractive random mosaic effect is obtained by making each puzzle piece of a different wood in contrasting colors. This puzzle has been produced as the Garnet Puzzle .
