So I've been wanting to get a tattoo for a long time, and I wanted to come up with a TF-related design. After much deliberation, I think I know what I want. I'm a big fan of the late Charles Bronson, and I'm working on plans for a tattoo of Bronson wielding G1 Megatron in Gun mode. I found a couple prospective pictures of Bronson, and I'm working on finding some pictures of Megs to match. Due to the realistic nature of the Bronson portion of that tattoo, I'm thinking that I might need a tattoo artist to sketch out the gun based on my G1 Megs toy, as the cartoon representation doesn't jive with the style. I also want the decepticon logo to be a little exaggerated so as to make the gun recognizable as megatron.

I originally wanted this to be the first part of a sleeve, but I'm having trouble coming up with future components. I was thinking that bronson could be taking aim at a thug with G1 Blaster on his shoulder or something.


EDIT Ok, so I threw together a quick and dirty photoshop of what I'm going for. I'm going to ask a buddy of mine with some tattoo connections in Philly for an artist recommendation, then take them a more refined copy to see what they can do.




Anyway, below are the two photos I'm working with. Additional ideas or photo sources are welcome.


This one is my favorite so far, because it would allow for some good, close detail on Megs, and the shape of the tattoo would be nice and solid.



This is my alternate, and I like that this would allow room for Megs' stock attachment. This would probably need to be part of a sleeve, though, because I think the shape would be kind of awkward on its own. Also, there's less room for detail on Megs without exaggerating the size of the gun or altering the perspective a bit.

If anyone has any good images of the G1 Megs toy that would fit, feel free to share, but I think I'll end up having the artist draw it in.

 

Okay, that makes more sense. When I first saw the thread title I thought you were talking about Bronson Pinchot, star of the late 80s/early 90s sitcom Perfect Strangers.

Not that a tattoo of Balki holding Megatron wouldn't also be cool.

 

Hahaha, that's amazing, I think you just helped me to figure out how this could be the foundation for a sleeve. Balki holding onto Cosmos for dear life, a young Fred Savage fishing with Hot Rod, Mr T driving Ironhide through a fence...the ideas are just flowing now. Thank you, my muse.

 

I do what I can.

 

Interesting idea. Just make damn sure the artist is REALLY, REALLY, REALLLLLLY good at portraits. Portraits are hard and I've seen 100 awful ones for every 1 good one I've seen. Make sure you check their portfolio and that the port has a pic of the finished tattoo as well as the picture they used next to it, so you can compare how accurately the artist carried it over to the skin. You really only get one shot at this. I've known some amazing ink artists who could do the most mind blowing shit, and still couldn't do a decent portrait to save their ass. It really is a specialty.

Good luck man. I like the first idea best, with the gun pointing up. It will flow better on your arm. You probably want to be able to see the whole thing, rather then see Charles and have Megs wrapping around the side where you can't really see the whole thing. And a good artist should be able to help you plan out a sleeve. It's hard, but most people don't have the time or money to drop on just going and getting a whole sleeve. Alot of them are finished in years piece by piece (like mine.)

But again good luck, hope you post pics if you get it done.

 

That's an incredible tattoo idea, guy - do post a pic once you've got it done. But oh man, Mr. T driving Ironhide would be amazing.  

 

Yeah man, I've been holding off because I've had no idea where to start in terms of finding an artist. I've got a friend in Philly who runs art shows for local tattoo artists and has been a regular at local conventions, so I just shot him an email to see if he can recommend someone with the necessary skills.

I agree with your comments regarding composition. The second picture is cool, but it would make for an awkward tattoo. And yeah, I'm not planning on rushing a sleeve, I'm just trying to think about ways I could build one around this concept. It's taken me a year of mulling to get this far, so the sleeve would be a long, carefully considered process.

Thanks for the comments and insight.

 

Charles Bronson and Megatron present Death Wish VI Cybertronian smackdown!

but seriously cool idea

 

Hey and don't forget Kris Kristofferson A.K.A Rubber Duck driving Optimus Prime!

 

I know a guy who's really, really good. But he just moved to Florida, but he does guest spots at Immortal Images in Giorgia. His names Andrew R. Trull if you feel like trying to look him up. He does amazing work, I can show you some of his work on me if you're interested, but I'll have to send you the pics in PM. I don't like putting my ink on the net where people can swipe it, it's not really 'mine' if other people have it too.

He's a phenomenal artist though, (better then me, which is hard to admit, lol) And the fact that his birth name has the initials A.R.T. I took as 'A Sign!' Lol.

Just, you know, don't rush into anything in your excitement to get ink. It's better to pay a little more and really get a great tattoo, then pay less and get something you're gonna want to cover up with something else. (you end up paying more in the long run)

But yeah Andrew takes into account composition, placement on your body, size (so that it flows with your body and doesn't look awkward,) All that stuff, he's really amazing. Won awards, been in magazines, etc. etc.

I'm really pretty sad he left Chicago because my arm and shoulder is only about 75%-80% covered, so now I've got to find someone else who does really good work.

You gotta be careful 'cause in the last few years because of Miami Ink and all that, alot of people are buying equipment off of eBay and calling themselves tattoo artists when they really have no business putting ink into people. It's a scarier time to be looking for ink then it was 10 years ago.

But again, good luck and please be careful. (you probably already know to make sure they use disposable needles, have an autoclave, exercise proper cautions, don't reuse ink, don't have porous countertops like granite that can absorb germs, etc. etc. )

 

"Mercy sakes alive looks we got us a Convoy! "