Re: Walls and Slots - was Re: APEC Rules

[Peter Harrison <peter_harrison@ntlworld.com>]

John Billingsley wrote:
> "Don't change the rules, change the environment"!
> 
> The first Portsmouth maze back in 1980 used corner pegs - and led to a
> lot of grief.
> 
> The bright lads at ICL thought of the 'pins design' and that worked fine
> for many years - until reliance was put on the 'freebie' maze from
> Japan.
> 
> Let me remind you.  Walls are held up by a pair of pins that slot into
> (tiny) holes in the base.  All 'posts' are virtual - incuded in the
> wall.  There are three lengths of wall, 'short' equal to the passage
> width, 'medium' one 'virtual post' longer and 'long' that includes two
> 'virtual posts'.  The only gaps/slots are where pairs of walls touch,
> either butting together on a straight or at right angles on a corner.
> Where a wall 'sticks out' there is no join at the end.
> 
> It's a lot cheaper to make, easier to transport and the maze base can be
> bought, drilled and painted on site for a contest at the far end of an
> air flight.
> 

Not to start a religious war or anything but...

I did make a small maze like that and I found it no easier to make. In 
fact there are a lot more holes to drill that have to be made at least 
as accurately as the post holes. I found it irritating to have to juggle 
  three lengths of wall when I wanted to change the maze layout rather 
than knowing every wall will fit anywhere. If the pins are fixed in the 
walls, they are a nuisance for storage, if they are not then they 
inevitably fall out and/or get lost.

Post and wall construction is, I believe simpler all round.

However - for anyone thnking of building their own, dont underestimate 
the time and effort needed to do it from scratch.

Pete Harrison
http://micromouse.cannock.ac.uk/