Wheel Boxes or Whell Housing

[thewharfonline]

A note on Wheel Boxes/housing

I've noticed that most international steamers use rounded wheel boxes. Early aussie steamers did too but it was soon discovered that the square wheel box (seen on my avatar) could be used for storing more goods. As our river trade was succesful due to moving large ammounts of produec -wool wood etc- this extra storage space was welcomed and soon became standard!

[mjt60a]

Tattershall Castle (and presumably Wingfield Castle and Lincoln Castle too) also had square paddleboxes but with round vents and since the sponson walls come all the way out you can't tell from the outside. (though looking at the area just in front of them, it wouldn't make much sense to create such a narrow triangular space in front of a round paddlebox!)
 

[paddlesteamerman1]

Hey All,

I am wondering on what light weight materials are best to be used for an authentic looking Australian Side Wheeler??? And also is it easier to build the Square paddle boxes rather than round ones? Thanks heaps!!