Boulanger Automobiles S.A

ElMenduko · 18 December 2018 23:52

Boulanger B3 Fourgon (1947*/1951)

B3 Fourgon 784, first trime to come out

Model overview

One of Boulanger’s first cars was this cute, $5500 bunch of partially corrugated goodness with monocoque chassis and forward wheel drive.

Despite its 2 meter wheelbase, the B3 Fourgon could carry quite a decent load for its size and price, being rated for a payload of 776kg, which is more than its own weight (725kg). All this, despite having a tiny 784cc engine.

Many theories arose to try to explain its name. Some said it was because its wheelbase was 3 Baguettes long. Others speculated it was because its cargo area was 3 Baguettes long. The name of the company (“Baker” in English) certainly must’ve contributed to these theories… and they weren’t entirely wrong, truth be told. Even Augustin Boulanger had to accept the bread jokes after being shown a joke livery B3 Fourgon. As long as it contributed to the car’s popularity, it contributed to sales!

Well, gang. It looks like we have another lore company in our hands!

The most accurate theory though was that the van was designed to fit in the 3CV fiscal tax category, hence the tiny engine. The pushrod inline 3 had very narrow cylinders due to how the fiscal tax formula worked, and made a maximum of 25hp. However, it resulted in very low taxes and relatively low fuel consumption, and was fairly easy to mantain. This made the B3 Fourgon become an instant success not only with bean counters but people looking to get stuff from A to B for only 9,0L/100km

This van was designed with weight savings and efficient usage of space as a priority to make up for the small engine. It used corrugated steel on most of its lower side panels to provide more structural strength without added weight, had two sliding doors on the sides for easy loading and unloading of large items (aside from the two back doors), and it used suicide doors for the cab to make climbing easier (as the front axle was right below the seats)

Trims

784 (1947*/1951)

784 used as a delivery van for Boulanger parts

The 784 was the basic trim, and the only one intended to be made from the beggining. It was very succesful in its intended role as a delivery van, due to having such great cargo capacity (both in volume and weight) for its size. It was rated for carrying more than its own weight, and the rear cargo area was pretty spacious due to various measures to make the best use of its space: FWD meant the floor could be lower as there was no need to run a driveshaft to the rear, and the cab was far forward (above and in front of the front axle), with the engine below the seats.

Boulanger 3B Fourgon - 784.car (192.5 KB)

784 F (1949*/1951)

The B3 Fourgon became popular with more uses other than as a delivery van though. Since it was affordable to buy and to keep, many people started buying them for adding seats to the back and using them as family cars, or sometimes even small camper vans for a person or two. So 2 years later, the 784 F version was launched, with a second row of three seats and windows on the rear.

Inside, this version was almost identical to the 784. It had more seats but the interior was fairly similar and basic, it didn’t have a radio either. Aside from that, the only difference was that it received slightly softer suspensions, particularly on the rear, to improve comfort somewhat, but being based on a budget commercial vehicle it was still less than stellar. Its target demographic wouldn’t care about that much though, this version was one of the cheapest ways to take up to 5 people and still a good amount of cargo from A to B and nothing more.

Boulanger 3B Fourgon - 784 F.car (191.8 KB)

Specs

Platform specs
Chassis:	Steel monocoque
Panels:	Steel and corrugated steel
Engine Placement:	Forward longitudinal
Front Suspension:	MacPherson type independent
Rear Suspension:	Leaf spring solid axle
-----	-----	-----
Engine
Aspiration and layout	NA Inline 3
Displacement	784cc
Valves	OHV, 2/cylinder
Max. Power	25hp @4400rpm
Max. Torque	53Nm @2400rpm
Drivetrain
Drive	FWD
Transmission	4-speed manual
Differential	Open
Interior and equipment	784	784 F
Interior Type	Standard	Standard
Seats	2	5
Entertainment	None	None
Performance	784	784 F
Top Speed	97.7km/h	95.9km/h
0-100km/h	Ha ha, no	Neither
Fuel Economy	8.7L/100km	8.8L/100km
Weight	726kg	745kg
Load Capacity/Volume	776kg/3933L	516kg/1257L
Towing Capacity	574kg	535kg
Pricing
Cost	$5169	$5318
Intended Sale Price	$5500	$5800

ACoolCrab · 19 December 2018 00:23

Boulanger? You sell Household appliance ?( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

ElMenduko · 19 December 2018 06:49

What are you implying Sir? This fine van is absolutely not a modded fridge with the refrigeration system removed, a gasoline engine added, and on wheels!

ACoolCrab · 19 December 2018 18:13

No I just say this because in France, beside being a job, Boulanger is a Household appliance store

Nice trucc anyway, well detailed c:

Marcus_gt500 · 20 December 2018 00:41

Great attention to details, well done sir.

ElMenduko · 21 December 2018 06:09

Boulanger Trapèze (1975)

A very recognizable executive car from the 1970s with Boulanger’s characteristic unconventional design.

Model overview

The Trapèze was the result of trying to offer an overall smaller premium car compared to previous models, yet still retaining a comfortable cabin size. The intention was to start offering a slightly smaller and cheaper executive car, without sacrificing the comfortable ride Boulanger premium cars were known for.

The best way to achieve this of course, was to make the boot and bonnet shorter than in other models, but this left too little space for an Inline 6 engine. So after some initial reluctance to stray away from the inline engines they were so familiar with and after discarding a V configuration, Boulanger engineers started developing a flat-6 engine.

This configuration allowed the engine to remain very smooth but fit in the smaller bay, but developing an entire new engine also allowed for many innovations Boulanger had been eager to try. The result was a 2.8L, 4 valves per cylinder, aluminium block and head engine with mechanical fuel injection. Being specifically designed for more high-end cars, there was a bit of extra attention paid to the development of bottom end parts to ensure smoothness, to the injection fuel system, and to the double muffler exhaust system to ensure a fairly quiet engine.

The car wasn’t particularly sporty, but it wasn’t bad either. The 2.8L version made 128hp, and the 2.5L one made 107hp. Boulanger thought that if someone wanted performance they should get the sports version, or an actual sports car.

Au contraire, their premium cars from this period seeked to distinguish themselves mostly through comfort and design. To achieve this, the Trapéze made use of an hydropneumatic suspension system, carefully tuned to provide a very soft ride over most obstacles and a constant ride height.

Trims

2.8 DL (1975)

Originally a top-level trim with a 2.8L engine, with 128hp and a 0-100km/h of 9.4s. This version had a very high-spec interior for a car this size and price, with 4 seats of the level which might be seen even in some outright luxury cars. The fancy interior made this version difficult to manufacture in great numbers, as some steps were labor intensive, but not too much.

The French market version had selective yellow headlights and foglights, while for other markets it had white ones.

2.5 EF (1975)

This version came with a 2.5L 107hp engine, and was meant to be more comparable to most other premium cars interior-wise, and for those who wanted to take better care of their wallets. Inside it was not as luxurious as the 2.8 DL, but still pretty good with, and this version had one one extra seat on the rear. It was also designed to have slightly better fuel economy (though not stellar), and not as soft of a ride as the DL version. Still an extremely comfortable car for its price, as it still retained the hydropneumatic suspension since it was an integral part of the car model

USA market versions of the 2.8 DL and 2.5 EF (1975)

Boulanger attempted yet again to sell its premium cars in the USA, again not getting quite the results they expected. For it to comply with USA regulations, the car had to be outfitted with reinforced bumpers and with sealed-beam headlights. The 5 speed manual transmission had to be changed for a 4 speed automatic, which appealed more to Americans but murdered the already minuscule spirited driving potential the car had, and worsened its already not too good fuel economy.

Boulanger himself was said to not be fully satisfied with the changes that had to be done, but approved the car anyways to see if this one would do better. The problem was that this type of car just didn’t appeal much to Americans, who perceived it as underpowered with such a small engine compared to their large V8s, and had to receive a worse-looking version due to regulations.

2.8 GT (1977)

The Grand Tourisme was an sports version that came 2 years after the initial launch. The re-tuned 150hp boxer 6 was certainly an improvement in spirited driving potential, but the car still retained much of its focus on comfort. It had a firmer suspension setup compared to the 2.8 DL, but still nowhere near a pure sports cars, and it kept a very similar luxurious interior.

For a car of its size, the Trapèze was pretty light (1215kg in this version), so the added horsepower made it reasonably quick. This version was also made to have less of a tendency to understeer, but still be more manegeable. A small spoiler lined the rear end, but aside from that, there weren’t many signficant changes from the 2.8 DL version it was based on.

Specs

WIP

RedRiot · 21 December 2018 11:29

Really good looking small executive car the Trapèze. It seems the French make elegant and comfy sedans in the Automation universe too, such as in real life.
I guess it’s an FWD, isn’t it?

ElMenduko · 21 December 2018 15:15

Thanks everyone

And yes, it is FWD

Imagine needing to run a driveshaft to the other end

This comment was made by:

Knightophonix · 21 December 2018 16:26

Quirks, memes, and obscure French references. I love this topic already.

ElMenduko · 22 December 2018 18:02

Glad that you like it

Traction Avant shitposting should totally be a thing outside of here though

Awildgermanappears · 22 December 2018 19:30

Mid 1970s
French
Flat Six between 128 and 202hp

By what comparison is a european 70s car with up to 200hp not fast?

ElMenduko · 22 December 2018 19:46

Well, true. Not counting the GT version, it is still certainly still fast compared to something like a Citroën CX, which had 2 less cylinders because they had to make do with an old I4 they had around.

I meant it was not fast compared to most of the cars I see shared around: “Bro, what if we made X type of car but… *pauses* with more schport and powah!”. And being a lore company post here I thought this one would be compared to the fast cars we see here and seen as slow… I guess?

It was actually slower when I made it, the 2.8L made around 138hp for example, but I decided to increase it a bit at the last moment. Still not really satisfied about that so I might revise it. Haven’t written the specs yet because of that, and because markdown tables are a PITA

And I might make an actual sports car but without going crazy, maybe a small berlinette with 1L engine and see how much can be squeezed without making it consume too much

Awildgermanappears · 22 December 2018 19:49

Make a GT based on the Trapèze running gear. That would be the sensible thing to do.

Knightophonix · 22 December 2018 20:00

No shit though, I wonder how the Trapèze would compare to this boi

1970s car comparative anyone? :lennythink:

Deponte · 22 December 2018 21:09

I’d argue that even a modern car with 200 HP can be considered fast (Depending on weight and other factors).

ElMenduko · 22 December 2018 21:16

@Awildgermanappears Yeah that was the idea with the GT trim, if by GT you mean a luxurious but sporty car. It still retains a luxury interior, in automation terms. Maybe I was going to make one out of a larger car when I saw a body that I really liked. But for now I want to maybe try to make a small coupé… somewhat inspired in something like a Renault Caravelle, a SIMCA 1100 Coupé, maybe even early Alpines.

@Knightophonix

Fite me:

I edited the Beam mod file, trying to make the selective yellow lights actually work, also tried to fix the colors to stop them from being overly-shiny, and I was trying to see how to condense all the trims under one car. It seems the forums won’t let me upload the file though, maybe it’s too large.

@Deponte

Yeah I also think a 200hp ~1250-1350kg car is more than sporty enough for me. But well, it is little compared to other cars I’ve seen in the automationverse. Or maybe it is that I’m just encountering the crazy power ones

Private_Miros · 22 December 2018 21:53

If you could put a few guidelines out there - or point me towards some - I would be grateful.

ElMenduko · 22 December 2018 22:02

Well, my idea was to make a guide once I figured it out a bit more. I’m still not done, only managed to fix the lighting part of the headlights but there are still some things to do. And it seems I got the color more or less right but I still have to fiddle around with the intensity and angles. And I have to fix the glowmaps too

Also, finding which node to change can be hard in automation cars, some you can see in the debug view, but others are so close together that you can’t tell which is which, so it also took trial and error

If you want to experiment too, here are the values I used, in the .jbeam file of the exported car:

.jbeam for the headlights

 	"props": [
	["func", "mesh", "idRef:", "idX:", "idY:", "baseRotation", "rotation", "translation", "min", "max", "offset", "multiplier"]
	{
		"lightInnerAngle":40
		"lightOuterAngle":120
		"lightAttenuation":{"x":0, "y":1, "z":1}
		"lightCastShadows":true
		"flareName":"vehicleHeadLightFlare"
		"cookieName":"art/special/BNG_light_cookie_headlight.png"
		"texSize":512
		"shadowSoftness":0.5
	}
	
	//Toco madera
	
	//Exterior derecha		
	["lowbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_-638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_-638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_-638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-5, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":70.000000,"lightBrightness":0.680000,"flareScale":0.388600,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],
	["highbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_-638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_-638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_-638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-2, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":120.000000,"lightBrightness":0.950000,"flareScale":0.582899,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],
	
	//Interior derecha
	["lowbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_-491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_-491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_-491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-5, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":70.000000,"lightBrightness":0.680000,"flareScale":0.388600,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],
	["highbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_-491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_-491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_-491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-2, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":120.000000,"lightBrightness":0.950000,"flareScale":0.582899,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],
	
	
	//Exterior Izquierda
	["lowbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-10, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":70.000000,"lightBrightness":0.680000,"flareScale":0.388600,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],
	["highbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-2, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":120.000000,"lightBrightness":0.950000,"flareScale":0.582899,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],
	
	//Interior Izquierda
	["lowbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-10, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":70.000000,"lightBrightness":0.680000,"flareScale":0.388600,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],
	["highbeam", "SPOTLIGHT", "Light_491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_0", "Light_491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_1", "Light_491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_2", { "x":-2, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, { "x":0, "y":0, "z":0 }, 0, 0, 0, 1, { "baseTranslation":{"x":0.0, "y":0, "z":0.01}, "lightRange":120.000000,"lightBrightness":0.950000,"flareScale":0.582899,"lightColor":{"r":255, "g":186, "b":0, "a":255} }],

The first part seems to be general settings for everything, should be pretty self-explanatory. Inner angle is the angle in which the lights have maximum intensity it seems, and then it falls off slowly until reaching the outer angle. It also lists the formatting for the rest of the stuff: “[“func”, “mesh”, “idRef:”, “idX:”, “idY:”, “baseRotation”, “rotation”, “translation”, “min”, “max”, “offset”, “multiplier”]”

Exterior=Exterior, Interior=Interior (duh), Derecha=Right, Izquierda=Left.

In this car I used two modular headlight housings on each side, with one headlight “bulb” on each. So a total of 8 “headlight fixtures” to call it something (ignoring the blinkers and foglights).

I’m absolutely not an expert (still trying to figure this out) but I’ll try to share more or less what I already figured, I’ll make a standalone guide somewhere when I can finally get everything light-related working right.

Summary

So, basically, there are two parts to Beam.NG headlights:

Glowmap

This thing makes the light itself seem lit. Basically, changing the texture of the light fixture itself but not actually illuminating anything else. Most easily seen in blinkers and tailights.

Example

“glowMap”: {
“material_27_boulanger_trapeze_2_8_dl__mt__fra_efixturetype__eft_headlight014”:{“simpleFunction”:{“signal_R”:0.3}, “off”:“material_27_boulanger_trapeze_2_8_dl__mt__fra_efixturetype__eft_headlight014_off”, “on”:“material_27_boulanger_trapeze_2_8_dl__mt__fra_efixturetype__eft_headlight014_on”, “on_intense”:“material_27_boulanger_trapeze_2_8_dl__mt__fra_efixturetype__eft_headlight014_onIntense”},

This one willl make some light (no idea which one) light up with 30% intensity when the right turn signal is activated.

My problem with glowmaps was that when I activated a turn signal, the bulbs inside the headlights acted as turn signals, as the automation exporter automatically thought they were blinkers because of having changed their color to yellow.

So what I edited in glowmaps was delete it for those 4 headlight bulbs. Finding out what is their name on the .jbeam was a pain though, I tried a mixture of free camera + debug mode, and trial and error. I figured the lens flare would make them look good enough.

Then I also hunted down the glowmap for the light housings (as the exporter thinks they are actual lights) and deleted it too, as it made them turn white when the lights were on

Spotlight props

Spotlight props can be seen on the part of code I put at the beginning. These won’t make the fixtures themselves light up, but they allow them to cast light on other stuff, and show a lens flare.

Problem number 1: the headlight housings were emitting light. Again, had to use debug and trial and error to find these nodes and delete them. They have a name like “Light_491_-1993_706_d4ffeb00_1”. The numbers seem to be related to their coordinates in the car it seems, so the one on the other side of the car will probably have a similar name but with a coordinate with opposite sign once you’ve found the first.

Problem number 2: the headlight bulbs were emitting very faint white light (like all exported cars do). So I toyed around changing the values and trying what looked right.

For example, taking the exterior right light in my case: its node is called “Light_-638_-1958_715_d4ffeb00_0”.

When low beams are on, it will light up with an angle of -5º, a max range of 70m, a brightness of 68%, it will show a lens flare (I don’t think I changed the default value on this one), and it will light up with an RGB color of 255/186/0 that seems to be close enough to selective yellow.

When high beams are on, the angle is -2º, range 120m, brightness 95%, and the lens flare is larger.

Stuff like the light beam angle seem to be adjusted in the general settings before that.

For the left lights, I made them have a lower angle in low beams to avoid glaring other drivers. The headlights seem to be a bit too bright, I still have to toy around with the exact values but hopefully those can be a good starting point

vmo · 23 December 2018 01:20

Do you want to compare against Gabatron?

kmBlaine · 23 December 2018 06:21

Okay I have to jump on a couple things here.

Remember in 1975 Cadillac was making an 8.2L V8 that made a 190 hp so. And sure the Cadillac 500 is an easy target but lest we forget it was simply the worst of many badly underperforming engines:

Ford’s 351 (5.8L) V8s were wheezing out just 150 or so horsepowers
And Ford’s 460 (7.5L) V8 was struggling to produce 220 horsepowers
The Buick 3.8L V6 (aka Dauntless V6 when produced by AMC) was producing an even (and miserable) 100 horsepowers.
And a whole bunch of other massive Murican engines were producing figures I don’t know off the top of my head but they were garbage all the same.

Point is that from my perspective I am having a hard time understanding which countries you might be referring to because the engine you’ve produced is a miracle for its size and its size is typical, if even a bit large compared to other European cars of the era. I mean heck is the BMW M30 even a thing yet in 1975? looks up real quick …okay yes it is and its not far off of what your boxer-6 is doing.

Pay no mind to them. Comparing your car to them is like comparing the tube-based UNIVAC (first digital computer) to some theoretical transistor-based computer that magically coexisted in 1949, nevermind transistors having only been invented 2 years earlier in 1947 and not having been meaningfully applied commercially yet.

Furthermore, I appreciate the faithfulness to reality and history. And I have found others agree; the cars that I’ve built which others have liked most are ironically the ones that are barely ranking in schport, if at all. There is not need to be apologetic and qualifying.

I would agree. I would go a step further and say a lot of people shouldn’t be trusted with more than 200 hp. They don’t ever seem to use it anyways – just brag about it.

*rages at Dodge Charger Hemi in front on the STRAIGHT SHOT highway ramp trying to merge at 80 km/hr*.

Oh and that wasn’t an joke. That happened the other day . And on another day besides that one. And… [ list of idiots utilizing not even an iota of the potential of their car goes here ]