Take a look at my Site

poniatowski

poniatowski

Well-known member
My school district wants every teacher to make a web site and I thought, "Cool! Getting paid to do this!!!"

So, take a look:

https://sites.google.com/site/ronponiatowskiart/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:D Ron
 
Nice site Ron =D> . Love those tank graphite drawings, especially the M60 Pattons in action* :bravo: .

One of my favorite hobbies is also photography, mainly night and macro. Not to mention hiking and skiing!

(*) I always have difficulty telling an M48 tank from and M60... Was it only about gun calibers?
 
RON said:
Nice site Ron =D> . Love those tank graphite drawings, especially the M60 Pattons in action* :bravo: .

One of my favorite hobbies is also photography, mainly night and macro. Not to mention hiking and skiing!

(*) I always have difficulty telling an M48 tank from and M60... Was it only about gun calibers?
Click to expand...

Ahhh, a fellow skiier! :) The M60 (early) was an upgunned M48 with an improved cupola for the M85 .50 caliber, still in use on the A-1 and A-3 Pattons. The M-60 was supposed to incorporate a composite armor in the front slope, so it was flat, rather than 'round nosed' like the '48 (this was also a bit better for dust and dirt being thrown into the driver's face). The turret bustle was squared off at the top and the bustle rack enlarged. There were also changes in ammunition stowage, crew seats were an odd sort of wire mesh seat with a very uncomfortable seat back arrangement. Later, RISE components were incorporated into M60 rebuilds. It also had three return rollers, as did the earlier M48's, but with the track tension adjustment through the front idlers, rather than a rear 'idler arm'. It was an easy tank to drive, although a bit cramped in the driver's hole. The steering wheel was the same as the '48 and, when backing, one had to 'counter steer', or steer in the direction opposite of the one wanted... you could tell new drivers when they backed up!

I really liked gunning the M60. It took me a few years to learn how to compensate for 'tube droop' from the sun heating the top of the main gun (causing 'short' hits) before going down range, and how long it took for the temp to equal out so that compensation for that wasn't needed (hence thermal shrouds on newer main guns). Also, a gunner had to compensate for windage (now a wind sensor does that) and calculate lead into his shots. Since the TC seldom calculated range with the range finder, using instead a 'battlesight' range setting, the gunner also had to be able to judge distance up to a point, now range is calculated to the fraction of a meter with lasers. Now, that all of that is done by computer, it's MUCH better for the survivability or the tank and crew, but not as much fun or experience acquired skill for the gunner.

:D Ron
 
Great illustrations Ron, and the armour is amazing!!!! Thanks for letting us see this other side of your work...

Cheers
Chris
 
Absolutley wonderful Ron, Bravo. You are a Renaissance man to be sure... =D> I don't know what I like best, they're all great.

Larry
 
Thanks all! This came up right on time for me as I'm assembling my resumés and preparing to leave teaching in the Wisconsin public schools... we'll see what happens, but it doesn't look good and I hope the Wisconsin University system or Germany might be places to teach until I really want to retire. \:D/ Who knows.

:D Ron
 
Thanks RON (Remain Over Night... an aviation term we used at the airport when a plane wouldn't be returning for hangar space that evening. ;) )

Things tend to turn out the for the best.

:D Ron
 
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