Rubik's Magic Question

[skaplan86]

so i got a rubik's magic for my birthday and already managed to screw it up to the point that I'm ready to throw it at the wall.... I had it in the solved position but screwed up going back to the starting position and cant get it back to flat. I have been goin in circles for an hour or so and finally got it somewhere thats pretty easy to explain.

right now its 1x4x2 however instead of being in a consistent loop or being able to simply unfold it to flat, one of the ends is attached differently. 1 square could be unfolded to flat but the other 3 open into a 3d shape....

I know its really hard to help with these things but any guidance on trying to get it back to flat would b really helpful. I have looked over most of http://www.geocities.com/jaapsch/puzzles/magic.htm but havent found a whole lot of help in just trying to get back to the beginning.

Is the only way really to just futz with it until it just kinda happens?

 

[Bob]

Get angry.
www.cubewhiz.com/videos/burtonangrymagic.avi

 

[AvGalen]

If you mean that it is a loop of 6 squares and the other 2 squares fold in the opposite position it is really easy:
1) Partly open the big loop so it looks like a fish (the other 2 squares being the tale)
2) Push in the nose
3) Figure out the other 2 moves yourself

If it isn't this position, you probably have a form that is not symmetric. Try to get 2 "single squares" next to eachother so they can become a 1x2. Repeat untill everything is "paired up" and symmetric. From there getting it back to flat is usually intuitive (after a lot of playing and puzzling that is)

Don't forget: It IS a puzzle