Five-Level Maze Solution

Here is a simple video of the solution to my Five-Level Walk-through Maze. I had to re-solve it because I didn't remember the way. It can be done! There are also other solutions, I think. The maze can only be solved by traversing each level multiple times, and by "jumping down" at certain places (a one-way trip). To see the solution in more detail, download the animation from Google Warehouse, and push play.

Island Abbey Maze

On an island far away, there is a strange abbey that forms a complex maze. Those who venture into the maze must travel underground and through courtyards within the abbey to achieve the satisfaction of reaching the exit at the opposite side.

My new maze was pretty fun to make. I was trying to use the design I used for the Chain-mail maze to make a 3D creation, and this is what it turned into. I think I'm getting better at using Sketchup, by using more of its features and designing reusable components to simplify and keep the file size small. Unfortunately, this maze is so hard with the curved passageways that even I can't do it without taking it apart. If it helps, move the top half to the side so you can solve by tracing the path from above and below without going through the passageways.

Anyone who likes classic TV or just anything weirdly funny but clean and entertaining should check out episodes of The Addams Family on Hulu.com and The Twilight Zone on CBS.com. These are my new favorite shows. I also like the Beverly Hillbillies, but I haven't found it online anywhere.

Five-Level Walkthrough Maze

Go up and down stairs to reach the roof of the building. This is a maze you have to walk through to solve, so dowload it from 3D Warehouse.

To walk: Click the Camera >Walk tool (looks like a pair of footprints) and use the arrow keys to go forward, back, and turn left or right. First click on the ground where you want to walk. Pay attention to eye height (should be between 3-5 feet for stairs to work, 4 is ideal), field of view (works best between 40 and 80 degrees), and distance from the camera (keep it close). I've set it up so these things should be ok to start with. As you walk, you can stop and use the Look Around tool to look in any direction. 

Other Tips: Be careful about jumping down where there are no stairs. It may be difficult to get back. Then again, it may be necessary to solve the puzzle. Don't try starting at the end because it won't work. Click Scene 1 to start over. Pay attention to the color of the floor. I made the outer walls transparent so you can "cheat" and look in to get an idea of how the maze works, but you won't be able to solve the whole maze that way.

Cube Maze

This insane thing was very fun to make, but I don't know if anyone will actually attempt it. You have to download the Sketchup model for this one, because you have to be able to rotate the cube and look through the tunnels. I made the sides translucent and color-coded the tunnels to make it more doable. It's tricky, but extremely cool if I say so myself.

Here's an animation of the solution. The music is just something I was humming, which I thought sounded cubish. The yellow dot in the center of the video follows the correct path.

Rose Window

Probably the nicest looking of my mazes, yet possibly the hardest, and a big favorite. Based on the fancy circular stained-glass windows often found in cathedrals.
Drawn freehand, without using a compass or tracing any circles. Also without measuring the distance around, which is why there's one loop that's off (see if you can find it).

Alternate Colors

Black & White

Solution

Ripples

Probably one of the awesomest of my mazes, and one of the ones I spent the most time on. Again, I draw the circles freehand without tracing or using a compass. The pattern is meant to represent ripples from drops of water flicked in a pool.

Black & White

Solution

Open-Air Maze

The new concept: maze pathways can take you into the "open air"; that is, the open space around the maze.



Solution

Lost in Segovia

Drawn on a family trip to Segovia, Spain, in which we mostly managed not to get lost. The background is a manipulation of an aerial photo of Segovia, which is a maze itself.



Solution