Elvas Tower: 1949 Nash Semi (Added Car Spawner Version and reduced draw calls) - Elvas Tower

1950 Nash Car Hauler Version 1.1 (Added Car Spawner Version and reduced draw calls)
MSTS Scenery Object
November 9th, 2021Nash Semi Tractor original model by Louis Fournier, adapted for MSTS and Open Rails by Frank Musick
Textures manipulated from photographs obtained on the internet.
Car Hauler Trailer original model by Frank Musick
Original textures drawn by Frank Musick

First of all, I would like to make it perfectly clear that I did not create the shape file used for this Nash semi tractor. Louis Fournier has uploaded his 3D models to Thingiverse.com where they are shared for free. Although Louis original intention was to share these files for reprinting on a 3D printer, I have used them here to create a scenery object for train simulation software in general, and for Microsoft Train Simulator and Open Rails specifically. A great deal of detail needed to be removed from the model to make it suitaable for use in the simulators.

This model is not a perfect replica of the full size counterpart. The models in this series were never intended to be. The textures were meant to make up for any deficiency in detail. The effort has been to create a reasonable facsimile of the high crown curves of the cars and trucks built in America in the mid 20th century.

Some History
MotorBiscuit
After car production started following WWII Nash Motor Company resumed building both cars and trucks, but the general public couldn’t buy these trucks. Nash only built a few hundred a year between 1947 and 1955 for use exclusively at dealers as tow trucks, or for corporate use at Nash assembly plants.

Starting in 1947 Nash began producing its “Haul Thrift” heavy-duty trucks. Dealers could order them for dealer-related needs like car hauling and tow trucks. But oddly they were not available to the general public.

Two different wheelbases were offered. The “3148” used a 133-inch wheelbase and the “3248” the longer 157-inch wheelbase. Gross vehicle weight was 14,000 lbs, increasing to 15,000 with larger tires and a two-speed rear axle.

The cab and fenders were from their 1946 sedans. The only unique tooling necessary was the back body panel to make it a truck cab. Grilles were simplified from what was used in Nash’s cars, and front fender openings were enlarged in a secondary stamping operation.

Interiors also picked up from the passenger car components which included an engine-turned dash panel. All truck interiors of that time were extremely spartan, including Nash’s.
Powering the trucks was Nash’s 234.8 ci overhead-valve Ambassador straight-six engine with seven main bearings. It could grunt out 104 hp with 195 lb-ft of torque at 1,700 rpm. A four-speed or five-speed transmission was used. When equipped with the Timken two-speed Double Reduction Hypoid Shift rear axle giving eight forward speeds.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1 Unzip the file 1949NashSemi.zip into any temporary directory. I personally use a folder I created for just this purpose called C:\TEMP which saves me a lot of searching around.

Step 2 FOR MSTS Once the file is unzipped go to the temporary folder and copy all the S and SD files into the SHAPES folder of the route you want to use the models in. Copy the ACE files into the TEXTURES folder of the same route. The contents of the file 1949NashSemi.ref must be added to the end of the REF file for that route.

Step 2 FOR Open Rails Once the file is unzipped go to the temporary folder and copy all the S and SD files into the SHAPES folder. Copy the ACE files into the TEXTURES folder. The contents of the file 1949NashSemi.ref must be added to the end of the REF file for that route.

SUPPORT:
As far as support goes, I'm not sure what help I can give. If you do run into a problem with
the model feel free to contact me by emailing florencefishbein@gmail.com

LEGAL STUFF:
This software has been released into the public domain as freeware.
Inclusion in any other freeware requires full recognition of the authors listed above.
This model cannot be used for any commercial purpose.