page:  = B of the Bang = 
   
   B of the Bang was a sculpture by Thomas <unk> next to the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester , England , which was commissioned to mark the 2002 Commonwealth Games ; it was one of the tallest structures in Manchester and the tallest sculpture in the UK until the completion of <unk> in 2008 . It was taller and leaned at a greater angle than the <unk> Tower of <unk> . The sculpture took its name from a quotation of British <unk> <unk> Christie , in which he said that he started his races not merely at the " <unk> " of the starting pistol , but at " the B of the Bang " . 
   The sculpture was commissioned in 2003 ; construction overran and the official unveiling was delayed until 12 January 2005 . Six days before the launch , the sculpture suffered the first of three visible structural problems as the tip of one of the spikes detached and fell to the ground . Legal action started a year later , resulting in an out @-@ of @-@ court settlement totalling £ 1 @.@ 7 million . 
   In February 2009 , Manchester City Council announced that the sculpture would be dismantled and placed in storage . Despite the promise of storage and potential <unk> , the core and legs of the sculpture were cut apart during removal . The core was sold for scrap in July 2012 , while the 180 spikes remain in storage . 
   
   = = Design and statistics = = 
   
   B of the Bang originally stood 56 metres ( 184 ft ) tall with 180 hollow tapered steel columns or spikes radiating from a central core . It was angled at 30 degrees and supported by five 25 m ( 82 ft ) long , tapered steel legs which connected to the spikes 22 m ( 72 ft ) above the ground . The sculpture weighed 165 tonnes , with the concrete in the foundations weighing over 1 @,@ 000 tonnes , including a 400 m2 ( 4 @,@ 300 sq ft ) reinforced concrete slab . The foundations are 20 m ( 66 ft ) deep . 
   The sculpture was made from the same <unk> steel ( also known as <unk> @-@ Ten ) as the Angel of the North sculpture , which gradually develops a tightly adhering oxide layer as it is exposed to the elements . This layer inhibits further corrosion by reducing its <unk> to water . As part of the design , the spikes <unk> slightly in the wind in order to withstand gusts in excess of 100 mph ( 160 km / h ) . At the time of construction a time capsule was placed in one of the spikes of the sculpture , containing children 's poems and paintings , due to be opened circa 2300 . The location of the time capsule after <unk> is currently unknown . 
   B of the Bang was located next to the City of Manchester Stadium at <unk> , in <unk> , at the corner of Alan Turing Way and Ashton New Road ; . It took its name from a quotation of British <unk> <unk> Christie in which he said that he started his races not merely at the ' <unk> ' of the starting pistol , but at ' The B of the Bang ' . The artwork had been nicknamed <unk> by the locals after the popular children 's game from the 1970s . 
   Prior to the construction of <unk> at the University of Nottingham , B of the Bang was Britain 's tallest sculpture at well over twice the height of the Angel of the North , which stands at 66 feet ( 20 m ) . It was designed to look like an exploding <unk> and was taller and leaned at a greater angle than the <unk> Tower of <unk> . It was commissioned by New East Manchester Limited to commemorate the 2002 Commonwealth Games . The design was selected by a panel consisting of both local residents and art experts via a competition in 2002 and was designed by Thomas <unk> . 
   
   = = Construction and funding = = 
   
   The sculpture was constructed in Sheffield by Thomas <unk> Studio , <unk> Lucas , Flint and <unk> and <unk> Structures . It was approved at the start of 2003 , with the central core arriving in Manchester on 13 June 2004 . This was the largest load that could be transferred via road from the factory , and required a police escort . This central core was lifted into place in August 2004 , after which the 180 spikes could begin being attached . Early estimates had given an optimistic completion date of July 2003 , which contributed to the sculpture gaining the nickname G of the Bang . 
   The official unveiling by <unk> Christie took place on 12 January 2005 . 
   In total the sculpture cost £ 1 @.@ 42 million to design and construct — twice the original estimate , as the initial costing had neglected to include installation costs . Funding was sourced from a European Regional Development Fund contribution of £ 700 @,@ 000 , the North West Development Agency , contributing £ 500 @,@ 000 , and Manchester City Council providing £ 120 @,@ 000 . 
   
   = = Structural problems and legal action = = 
   
   The tip of one of the 2 @.@ 1 m ( 6 @.@ 9 ft ) spikes detached and fell from the sculpture on 6 January 2005 , only six days before the official unveiling . After inspection , the event went ahead as planned . 
   Four months later , in May 2005 , a second spike had to be cut off by <unk> after it was discovered hanging loose . At that time the sculpture was closed off to the public , and the junction and pathway near the sculpture were temporarily closed . As a result , some of the joints were re @-@ <unk> , with equipment put in place to prevent excessive movement . This consisted of <unk> tip weights to 70 % of the spikes ' weights . 
   Despite these modifications , B of the Bang remained <unk> off , prompting a local newspaper campaign to ' Get It <unk> ' . In May 2006 a total of nine spikes were removed from the sculpture and taken away for <unk> analysis , to discover the stresses being placed on the steel . 
   It was announced in October 2007 that Manchester City Council were taking legal action against the makers of the sculpture , with the aim of completing the necessary repairs to the sculpture . In November 2008 this culminated in an out @-@ of @-@ court settlement being reached between Manchester City Council , the project 's designers Thomas <unk> Studio Ltd , and the engineering and construction <unk> <unk> Lucas Ltd , Flint and <unk> Partnership and <unk> Structures Ltd . The agreement was to pay the council £ <unk> in damages for breach of contract and negligence . 
   
   = = <unk> = = 
   
   Acting on a report in January 2009 , the city council recommended that B of the Bang should be dismantled and placed in storage until funds could be raised for its safe <unk> . The report recognised the sculpture 's aesthetic value for Manchester and Manchester City Council committed itself to working with the artist to reach a long @-@ term solution . One possibility involved the replacement of the steel spikes with <unk> made from carbon fibre , although the report <unk> the necessity for extensive testing . 
   In January 2009 , Antony <unk> , creator of the Angel of the North — to which B of the Bang is often compared — spoke out in support of the sculpture , stating that , " It is a great tribute to Manchester that this ground @-@ breaking work was commissioned . To allow it to disappear would be a loss not just of an inspirational artwork but also of the council 's <unk> . " 
   Despite <unk> 's plea , removal of B of the Bang began in April 2009 . More substantial hoarding was erected around the site and demolition firm <unk> Brothers Limited began removing the spikes with <unk> cutting equipment . 
   Although the council had promised to store the complex central core and legs , these too were cut apart during removal , casting doubt on future prospects for the landmark sculpture 's return , and in early July 2012 the core was sold as scrap for £ 17 @,@ 000 . 
   
   