Virginia Junke can cite many reasons to be proud of her father.

George Junke, who lost his hand in a work-related accident in his 20s, works anywhere from four to 14 hours a day on his model ships. (Photo courtesy of Virginia Junke)

George Edward Junke, Sr. was born on the Fourth of July in 1932. In his early 20s, he lost his right hand working as a punch press operator at Bettcher Manufacturing in Cleveland. He not only continued to work, but also took side jobs remodeling bathrooms and kitchens, using self-taught carpentry and construction skills to support his family.

Eventually, he decided to become self-employed and his remodeling work became his specialty – his “bread and butter.”

“He is a hard worker and has always been an inspiration,” said Junke’s daughter, Virginia, who lives in Woodville.

In her home, Virginia displays two scale model ships – the President and the HMS Bounty, meticulously handcrafted by her father, who currently lives in Avon Lake.

She has listed the Bounty, in a custom glass case, on Craigslist (craigslist.org), hoping to find a buyer who will appreciate the painstaking detail and hours of work her father has put into the ship.

“Dad worked on them for six months – there’s incredible detail,” she said.

“The wooden hull, sides and deck are tiny planks hand-milled from a piece of walnut and there’s very intricate rigging –my dad’s favorite part of the ship assembly.”

George’s interest in building models, goes back to when he was a kid, he says.

“Then when I got married and had six kids, I didn’t really have time for a hobby,” he said. It was the 1980s, when a friend was closing his model shop in Sheffield Lake, O. that his interest was piqued again.

“He was selling stuff real cheap to get rid of it,” George sais. “I saw a model and asked him how much he wanted for it, and I said, ‘Hey, I’ll buy it,’” he said.

“I started buying a kits that includes everything – and I found that even with cutting out the pieces and what have you –I could finish it in four, five or six weeks – that was too quick – not much of a challenge,” he said.

So, George started duplicating the parts in the kits, including hand cutting wood pieces and, after trying out several processes, casting metal parts himself.

He now builds two ships at a time – one from the kit and one fabricated completely from scratch.

“I tried different techniques –a little trial and error,” he said. “I had a friend, Otto Kirchner, who had been building ships for over 60 years, and I taught him how to do a few things.”

In his kitchen, he keeps his wood lathe, where he hand turns his masts and cross members and other pieces. “I’ll take a four-inch diameter log and cut it down to pieces 1/8 by 1/32 – smaller than the size of a paper match,” he said.

He currently has completed replicas of the Prince William, the Constitution and the Golden Hind, along with custom glass display cases.

In addition to ships, George has made a number of miniature roller coasters and a Ferris wheel. “The roller coasters are made all from matchstick-sized wood that is hand-milled from a block of poplar,” Virginia said. "They’re really something to see.”

“I dabble around with them for something to do,” he said. “It’s interesting and quite a challenge.”

With the help of his friend Otto, who recently passed away, George was able to sell six of his ships to a Boston dealer. “The guy sent a truck down to get them –I talked to him later and he sold all six in four months.”

He is hoping to sell more so he can continue his hobby.

“I only got so much room,” he said. “And I live on a very limited income – I don’t have the money to build ships and put them in the closet.”

Virginia, who also creates artwork and handcrafted items, which she sells on etsy.com – a Web site provides a forum for buying and selling handmade items as well as vintage items and craft supplies, finds inspiration from her dad’s talent and determination.

“He didn’t graduate from high school, and he doesn’t know a lot of technical terms for some of the things he can do, but he can do it,” she said.

“He takes the time because he thinks the ships are beautiful and I think they are too,” she said.

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