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When John Bowman retired as a salesman for Bio-Serve Corp. in 2006, he decided he needed a hobby to occupy his time - so he built a model steamboat from a kit.

"I thought, I can do better than that," Bowman said. "And I did do better."

Now, he says, he's one of only four people in the United States who build model steamboats entirely from scratch.

Since 2006, he has built more than 15 model steamboats. Some are on display at his 2220 Market St. home and antiques shop in Wheeling, and others can be seen at the Point Pleasant River Museum in Point Pleasant, W.Va. His most recent endeavor, completed May 28, is a 42.5-inch long scale model of the "Homer Smith" steamboat. His largest model to date, that work will be on display at the Point Pleasant River Museum beginning Sunday.

"It was very much a challenge," said Bowman, noting he's spent seven or eight hours a day since March 1 - 392 hours in all - building the steamboat and display case.

The "Homer Smith" was a packet-excursion steamboat built at Jeffersonville, Ind., in 1914. It could accommodate 125 overnight guests and could pack in 2,000 for day or night excursions. The ship burned in April 1931 while moored on the Allegheny River.

According to Bowman, the most challenging aspect of creating the model was making it look exactly like the photographs.

"People only know this boat from pictures now," he said, "so it's very important to make the boat look like it does in the pictures."

Glinda Bowman, John's wife, is there every step of the way, providing support and a sharp eye for perspective. She said his model steamboat building keeps him very busy.

"You have to be very creative on some of this stuff," Glinda said.

For example, a light on the front of the model was made using the valve cap cover from a tire and the clear plastic piece on a thumb tack.

Bowman spares no detail to ensure accuracy on all the models he builds - he even makes sure the flags flying on the ships contain the accurate number of stars that would have been on the U.S. flag at the time the boat operated.

The "Homer Smith" model was commissioned by Point Pleasant residents Lynn Durst and Nancy Jewel, granddaughters of the boat's namesake, for permanent display in the Point Pleasant River Museum. Bowman said it will be unveiled Sunday at the summer meeting of the Ohio-Kanawha River chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen.

Bowman was nominated as a 2009 West Virginia History Hero by the Wheeling Area Historical Society.

In 2008, he published a book, "Wheeling: The Birthplace of the American Steamboat," which is sold at the Wheeling Artisan Center and at the Antique Parlor, a business the Bowmans operate out of their home on Market Street. It is open Fridays and Saturdays.

Bowman said he currently is working on a second book, "A Pictorial History of Wheeling and Ohio River Steamboats," which he hopes to have available by November.