JOE004

JOE004
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

In the Precinct centre.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

JOE005

JOE005
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

Outside Manchester Museum.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

BOT011

BOT011
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

In the University grounds, near the Student Support centre.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

BOT007

BOT007
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

The stainless steel sculpture outside the Whitworth art gallery looks so much like a space ship that it's just calling out for a Transformer.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

JOE006

JOE006
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

This guy thought he'd test his camouflage in a planter outside Next.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

BOT006

BOT006
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

This guy liked the look of the Cooperative pyramid, so that's where he was released.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

JOE003

JOE003
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

Outside Manchester Art Gallery.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

JOE002

JOE002
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

Down the side of John Rylands library.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

JOE001

JOE001
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

The first of the GIs found a new home on the Albert Memorial in Albert Square.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

BOT005

BOT005
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

This fellow is behind bars at Manchester Central Library.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

BOT004

BOT004 is going to be released in Austria some time in the next fortnight. This post will be updated when this has happened and I have received pictures or information.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

BOT003

BOT003 is going to be released in Austria some time in the next fortnight. This post will be updated when this has happened and I have received pictures or information.

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

BOT002

BOT002
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead

Released at the buddha mosaic on the Tib Street side of Afflecks Palace. I saw two guys find it (and photographed them, I'll upload those pictures later).

In memory of Andy McCruden. To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.

How to build your Transformer

Before each Transformer is released into the wild it is scrutinised and carefully tested by our quality control department (Alex, Damian and I, swearing when we can't get our robots out of disguise). If, like us, you are occasionally stymied by your 'bot, there are reviews, with very useful photos that can be used as guides, at Seibertron and the Transformer Archive.

BOT001

BOT001
Originally uploaded by spinneyhead


The first of Andy's Transformers to find a new home. It's in Salford Quays, sheltering in a crane.

This is going to be marked on a map, as are most of the robots and GIs released. There is also a set on Flickr of bot-crossing pictures for you to check out.

If you found BOT001 and visited the blog to find out more, please leave a message in the comments telling us what you plan to do with your newly adopted robot.

About bot-crossing

Andy died in May of 2007, leaving behind a huge collection of Transformers and GI Joes. Rather than throwing them all away we felt they should be used in as constructive a way as possible.

So bot-crossing was born. Taking inspiration from bookcrossing.com we will be setting toys loose and seeing what happens to them.

If you have found one of the toys use the index in the sidebar to find out more about it. If you would like to release a toy of your own get in touch and we will send you information.

To find out more about Andy read the obituaries on Spinneyhead and UK-Rag. To make a donation please go to the justgiving page set up to remember him.