iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I decided not to bother with this, because I'd rather not brick my beloved samples with some hallucinated code, and that's why I'm now making clanger noises in Pure Data.

A simple patch in Pure Data - a sine wave with controls for frequency and volume. We all have to start somewhere.

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Update: I'm in! And it's running buttery smooth so far, so that's nice.

Linux Mint, running on a 2014 Macbook Pro, now in 'actual hardware screenshot' o vision

100

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I used to be well good at FPSes with a 2014 MacBook Pro keyboard. So let's try that again.

A 2014 MacBook Pro with Linux being installed on it

100

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Today's robot arrival is this neat KO of the Legends Fortress figure (the guy that becomes the big guy's head, for JP Headmasters shelf reasons.) Hips needed a little bit of sanding out the box, but otherwise fairly delighted!

The KO of Legends Fortress, in his 'head of Fortress Maximus' mode. No sound effects or lights, but I won't lose sleep about that.

100

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Bought some bits and bobs on Cults3D and got them printed up. My reputation as the 'Sunbow Accuracy Madman' is one I am incredibly proud of.

Buzzworthy Bumblebee deluxe Cliffjumper, now equipped with some leg extensions (by Kayembi) and a chest spoiler (by Robots78). Studio Series 86 Bumblebee has also had some mods, including the head from Devastation Bee, a rounded off bumper, and blue window toyhax.

The Datsun trio (Earthrise Bluestreak, SS86 Prowl and Earthrise Smokescreen) with a variety of alterations. Bluestreak has some new paint and toyhax, Prowl has the Achai Studio head, and Smokescreen has the Nonnef shoulder cannons. All three also have the more accurate Datsun headlights (by LazyEyebrow)

The big four Decepticons on their shelf. Soundwave's blaster barrel is modded to rotate to its usual orientation, Starscream's eyes have been repainted, Megatron has the DNA Design Optimus Prime fusion cannon jury-rigged onto his arm, with the Yolopark mace plugging nicely into his hand's ball socket. He also has a cheapish upgrade face I bought on AliExpress - three were included, but the yelling is my favourite. Finally, Shockwave has some bigger feet, courtesy of David Willis. You can actually see him now!

031

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A grand week for new robot fellas. All bar two of whom have already been customised in some way. I can't be stopped!

Studio Series MTMTE Collection Starscream, armed with the pistol from SS86 Megatron and THAT SMIRK. I painted his eyes red and hit the face with a matte topcoat. That's about it.

Studio Series MTMTE Collection Prowl, with a custom head by Achai Studio. Someone's in the background, pointing a weapon-shaped object at him

The MTMTE Collection Insecticons 3 pack, from left to right: Bombshell, Shrapnel and Kickback. The only mod I did here was painting Bombshell's waist.

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Hasbro clearly aren't liking the DHS' deranged racist Optimus Prime poster

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Here it is - it might just be me, and I figure they’re trying to keep things deliberately vague, but it looks… odd.

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

In Liverpool again because my wardrobe is looking a bit rough. I am very glad I bothered.

The record sleeve for the KLF remix of 'So Hard' by Pet Shop Boys, in a paper Rough Trade bag

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Picked up this KO of MP-57 from PrimetimeToyz, and pretty happy with it overall. Definitely a bit sketchy QC wise (the wing fell out, and there's a touch of yellowing on the leg) but it does the trick as a lavishly cartoon accurate Jetf-Skyfire.

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Today I realised my Siege Jetfire was packaged with four of the thin blast effects and none of the wide ones. I have owned that figure for five years. How.

The blast effects of Siege Jetfire. There should be three distinct blasts, but mine had four thin ones and two medium ones. Oops!

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Took a minute, but they finally got someone into the office.

1280

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Remember when Syndication made music? Pepperidge Farm remembers. (Not an official remix, just something I wanted to do as soon as I got my grubby mitts on the stems)

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Plot twist of the century: he actually made it into the locker nearly a week after they first tried! Great news for everyone except the half paint stripped ER one, who's currently bathing in a tub of IPA.

Buzzworthy Bumblebee deluxe Cliffjumper, in all his anime blue windows and grey limbs-y glory.

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Today's rather slapdash custom is some additions to Wheeljack! Repainted the windows a bit and lobbed on the Go Better Studio upgrade kit, although I'm too fond of my bizarre kitbashed rocket launcher to swap that out just yet.

Selects G1 Wheeljack, with additional paint on the chest to make it more curved, new back wings and filler pieces from Go Better Studio, and a cannon hacked together from a Nonnef set and Siege Sideswipe's missile.

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Bought a couple of @nonnef.com upgrades at TFN. They were out of the bigger Wheeljack sets, so I kitbashed the G1 toy one with a Siege Sideswipe missile for cartoon-grade artillery. Very happy with how it came out!

Earthrise Smokescreen and Selects Wheeljack, upgraded with shoulder cannon upgrades by Nonnef Productions. Both have been painted white, and Wheeljack's cannon has been modified using the missile from Siege Sideswipe.

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I feel like seeing these Marvel customs on my feed all the time was a major factor in my own customs. Except mine went full Sunbow, so from one extreme to the other!

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

The 84-85 Autobot shelf has been reassembled, and the inhabitants are looking a lot more... Sunbow-y. More to come on the ones I customised soon!

A shelf including the complete lineup of Autobots from the 1984-1985 seasons of The Transformers. A lot of the figures have been customised - some very subtly, and others getting a complete overhaul

020

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

My latest custom feels like it's come out of a nightmare where Hasbro finally does a Studio Series 86 Grapple, but the deco team use Auto Berserk as the reference.

Earthrise Grapple, slightly repainted into the earlier cartoon model from the episode 'Auto Berserk' (the helmet is black with yellow ears, the windows are light blue toyhax, and the feet have been painted silver, as has his claw)

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Ta! It's part of a project that started off with me just swapping 86 Bee's head, and then snowballed into whole repaints. Given Studio Series is going into cartoon-based redos now, my timing was pretty funny

020

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I ended up customising the three of these I already had in a decidedly overboard attempt to stop myself buying this set. Why I didn't just buy a regular SS86 Ironhide and sticker it up, I couldn't tell you.

Earthrise Bluestreak, painted into the three pack colourscheme

Earthrise Ironhide, repainted into G1 cartoon colours and outfitted with the Nonnef upgrades

Siege Mirage, repainted into G1 cartoon colours. The lighter blue came out a bit too dark, but most of the folks I've spoken to liked it, so it's staying

220

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The night mode on my phone camera is great at making green Lio Convoy look far brighter in the dark then he actually is.

The green version of New Legends Lio Convoy, glowing in the dark. It's far less bright in real life, but night mode on the OnePlus phones makes it look brighter than the sun.

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

The Technobots are unboxed! And as always, their nylon pieces do not like the light in my room, so I initially thought they'd yellowed to oblivion. Strafe definitely has though, so he's got a date with a can of white spray paint coming up.

The Unite Warriors Technobots. From left to right: Nosecone, Lightspeed, Scattershot, Strafe and Afterburner.

The combined form of the Technobots, Unite Warriors Computron.

110

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Had a marvellous time at TFNation, and here's some robots and all. Loved the panels I went to (I could listen to Scott Brownlee talk about vintage audio equipment for the rest of my days) and great seeing many familiar faces, even if I didn't get to say hi to some. Roll on next time!

My haul of robot goodies from TFNation 2026. From left to right: the Target 2026 book by TMUK, a Rodimus charm by Herzspalter, the 2009 reissue of G1 Piranacon, core class Steeljaw (who's fallen over) G2 Archforce, a bookmark of Tarn also by Herzspalter, the 2006 reissue of G2 Battle Convoy aka Laser Optimus, Unite Warriors Computron, RID01 W.A.R.S., G1 Dogfight, core class Wheelie, and the recently released New Legends Green Lio Convoy. Phew!

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Not too far from Birmingham now, looking forward to seeing everyone at TFNation!

A guy on a train to Birmingham. Repping Manchester United, because all my Transformers shirts are weirdly thick cotton and it's too warm for that

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Make that two customs! I managed to get Warpath over the line, despite having to repaint his feet entirely after another topcoat snafu. The colour matching isn't perfect, but on the shelf the difference is hardly noticeable, which is handy.

Kingdom Warpath - customised with some additional red on his inner arms and tum, and a light grey over the stark white treads. I also had to repaint the red on his feet, which was not fun.

100

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Got one more custom finished before the trip to TFN tomorrow - Sunbow colours Mirage! Essentially slapped the colours of the upcoming three pack one onto Siege lol. Very happy with it.

Siege Mirage, repainted into cartoon colours. Alterations include grey blue chest, knees and feet, and white forearms.

130

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I have just crossed the '24 hours of owing AOTP Powerglide' mark, and his head has already been primed, painted, topcoated and put back in situ. Very happy with the results.

Age of the Primes Powerglide, now with a flat light grey on the face instead of a mix of dark grey plastic and metallic silver.

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Been customising my robots again. Ironhide got a fresh shade of red and some Nonnef upgrades, and Prowl got the Achai custom head. Happy days!

Earthrise Ironhide, customised into a brighter shade of red, with an opaque blue windshield chest, and Nonnef Productions upgrades fitted - specifically the van wheels and converting feet

Earthrise Prowl, now adorned with the Achai Studio custom head. I did modify the head slightly so that the helmet sits at an angle, and I repainted the whole thing too.

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A week or two ago, I started customising the previously released G1 guys into more cartoony colours, so they'd fit in better with the more recent releases. At least I might save a bit of cash now!

SS86 Bumblebee, Earthrise Smokescreen, Earthrise Bluestreak and Kingdom Huffer, all with minor custom paintwork (and a new head in Bumblebee's case) for better resemblance to the cartoon.

030

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Been painting some Transformers up recently, but it's waaaaay too hot to be painting anything right now. So it's time to return to an art form I have long abandoned.

The torso of the Real Grade Sazabi model kit, complete with metal inner frame (the original one broke!)

210

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

I'm at freakin' Kraftwerk! The tour programme is very nicely presented, but shame about the photos inside, which were evidently taken on an old iPhone at full zoom. They've made poor Ralf look like a blobfish!

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Another place I went on my travels today was Rerun in Old Swan Liverpool, because I went past them on the bus, saw Trypticon in the shop window and thought 'bloody hell.' They have a religious devotion to Pepsiman, which is proof the world isn't entirely fucked yet.

A human sized Zaku bazooka from Gundam in the shop window of Rerun

A Japanese pepsi bottle top, showing what happens when Pepsiman sits down on a freshly painted chair, then stands up. Oops

Transformers R.E.D. Shockwave, a figure I thought I'd never own that was chilling in the shop. I was giddy as hell.

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Finally remembered to paint the vents on Seaspray's face. I'm 'appy with that

Transformers G1 Retro deluxe Seaspray, in a half crouched firing pose. My copy has some eyes (courtesy of a Gundam sticker sheet) and painted faceplate vents, for a mostly but not entirely cartoon look

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

AOTP Swerve is in the house. Very fun and surprisingly extensive retool of Gears. The take on his design (and the headsculpt) won't be for everyone, but I think it's a cracking look. Had to give him the blaster from the Blokees Wheels one though!

Age of the Primes Deluxe Swerve, a small white and red robot, equipped with the My First Blaster accessory from the Blokees Wheels Swerve car model.

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Finally put together a TFW2005 thread for my custom Crosshairs, based on his brief appearance in the Legends manga. Complete with a fairly random guest appearance from the Rescue Force! www.tfw2005.com/boards/threa...

The Transformers Pointblank (in red and light blue) Crosshairs (in red and navy blue) and Sureshot (in bright yellow and orange) all posed in a row with their targetmaster weapons raised.

From left to right - Sureshot in his dune buggy mode, Crosshairs in his pickup truck mode, and Pointblank in his sports car mode.

Rescue Force 3 (in black with a yellow body) hitches a ride on his mini vehicle (a predominantly red jet based on Rescue Force 2, with the light blue of Rescue Force 1’s tank mode underneath)

020

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Tomodachi Life is the most important game in entertainment history. This is why.

A mii of 80s television monstrosity Mr. Blobby on Tomodachi Life for Nintendo Switch, asking me how many people on the island I think are secretly a Tory.

020

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Things are going well in Westminster I see.

A BBC News update by Chris Mason that reads:

Labour's backbench parliamentary committee blocked from seeing PM, BBC understands

The group asked to see him, as it is their job to represent the views of backbenchers - but No 10 refused.

The committee is made up of around half a dozen MPs and some peers, elected by the Parliamentary Labour Party.

It usually meets weekly with the prime minister when he is in Westminster.

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

My Aiwa tape deck has arrived, so to put it to the test, I used my dad's extremely cursed copy of 'Introspective' by Pet Shop Boys. Who knew it was so easy to summon demons using British dance pop?

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

New cartridge installed on the Sony. It sounds divine.

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Here it is blasting some Daft Punk, because I don't have any Steely Dan to test its 'audiophile' powers

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

The Sony PS-x6 is set up and singing beautifully! Did have to fix the speed, but it was an easy job that was very satisfying to carry out and all. That Ortofon will need replacing soon but it does sound exceptional even now

100

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

In Macclesfield on business. Music business!

A mysterious box of musical joy at Macclesfield train station

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

One of my fellow sintelliners has dropped a bunch of rare and unusual figures at Cash Generator - I am very happy to own SS86 Ratchet for not triple digits

Generations Selects Star Convoy in the window of Cash Generator St Helens

EX Gokin Alpha Trion in the window of Cash Generator St Helens

Studio Series 86 Ratchet, in my grubby mitts. His packaging is dusty and battered, but he was £40, so I was having him!

000

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

In the home stretch with my custom Crosshairs. I am disgustingly proud of how the torso piece came out.

The torso for my custom Crosshairs from Titans Return Kup - a robot body with a big window in the middle, which I have strategically masked to recreate the window of the original Crosshairs toy. Also deliberately frosted up the window with topcoat, because I didn't want the front of the vehicle mode to be as obvious without removing the transparent plastic entirely

040

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Guess the painfully obscure homage!

A titan master painted in black, with a yellow torso and blue face

010

Matthew Ashcroft @syndication.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

All the old direct drive turntables I’m looking at on eBay keep selling before I can even ask the seller about them

The Rich Evans sitting on the couch with a bottle of wine meme

100