Quimera Box

Quite possibly my new favorite coins across routine. The build quality of the Al 'N' Nate Box is excellent and I appreciate that 4 half dollars are included. If you're just starting out exploring coin magic, you'll need to learn some basic/intermediate moves that are noted but not described in detail in the instructions.

There are a few downsides worth noting, first is that the tutorial isn't able to be downloaded and finding the tutorial was somewhat confusing, there are two QR codes and a URL with a passcode on the box, but confusingly the QR on the front of the box and the URL and passcode don't bring you to the tutorial, but the QR on the inside of the box does.

The tutorial itself covers everything you need to know for the routine, but doesn't go into great detail or utilize additional camera angles.

The main issue I've encountered is that there is an extra item included for the routine, the item itself is excellent quality, but there are some arts and crafts one will need to do to customize it, the papers needed for this are also included. However, there are no instructions on how to customize the item, and you have to customize it in order to use it. One can deduce how to put it together but it seems like a bit of an oversight.

Perhaps those instructions are hiding somewhere and I wasn't able to find it, but felt it was worth noting.

Overall I'm quite please with this release.

I would say it's perfect close up trick itself. The method I knew going in. With that said quality of props were great except the carry net case. Tbh it cheapened the over all product. The instructional video was fine nothing amazing. An experienced magician will work out their own handling and maybe use one or two things from the video. I bought two of them, one for practice and one for shows. This is definitely a keeper overall I just wish for the price it came with a better carrying situation then the thin net type bad.

The props are made pretty well. You receive 3 colors for the gimmick but my red and green was folded which puts a crease in it. Not a crisis for me as I would use the black one. The tutorial is a bit hard to unravel. Its a bit fast paced and you have to watch it a few times. The box itself is stunning. Overall this is quite nice. It's a very clever routine.

I can recommend it.

I honestly purchased this because I wanted to know how Hernan Maccagno performed the routine he did on Fool Us. But it didn’t stop there. This wonderful prop opens a ton of doors for coin magic. It may very well be the perfect prop for coins. Combined with the other “stuff” this will truly bamboozle your audience. This little gem is only limited by your creativity. Get it and have fun.

Revising my review AFTER I got the tutorial to work. The box is beautifully made, and what a nice touch to include the half dollars, which ARE real.

That said, the tutorial is presented at a breakneck pace, so be sure to watch it at least five times. The subtitles are serviceable, but it seems as though they used auto-generate, so there are some idiosyncrasies here.The basic routine is very easy but, to do the full routine as presented on Fool Us will require some decent chops.

This box actually goes way back and can serve as a wonderful gateway to other routines.

An easier to access tutorial, better subtitles, and a slower pace would make this an absolute gem. All of that said, it is a good routine that invites experimentation.

Probably like a lot of people, I bought this after seeing Hernan Maccagno perform this on Fool Us. For your money, you get a few key props and a gimmick.

In terms of other reviewers’ comments, it’s true that the instructions are not easy to follow. The website is an instruction video (that you navigate to via a QR code) but the website, while functional, is not nearly as intuitive to use like YouTube or other video course content. That is, the click-ability does things you don’t expect (like exit Full Screen and make it hard to get back in), and you will have to watch the video multiple times in order to grok the content.

But that’s fine, it’s functional, and you’re there to learn the material.

In terms of the level of sleight-of-hand required, it’s somewhere between Intermediate and Advanced (maybe a 3.5 - 4 on scale of 1 [easy] to 5 [expert/advanced]), though not every sleight is difficult (some of it is easy). However, if you have a decent knowledge of coin magic you can probably simplify a few moves with some false transfers, simpler palms, and easier loads. You will need to apply your own creativity if you want to make the effect a little easier (the instructions contain what’s shown on Fool Us, plus a little more).

All in all, a great trick but you will have to work a little bit to take full advantage.