Description
Well, I did say there’d be more!
For all you fans of classic sci-fi, classic literature or naval history, you already know about the torpedo-ram HMS Thunderchild from HG Wells’ classic novel ‘War of the Worlds’. Since I recently re-read the book, and also have been listening to a LOT of naval history (check out ‘Drachinifel’ on YouTube; really interesting long, in-depth info about naval warfare up to the end of WW2), I decided to make a series of plaques for the ship through the ages. Elsewhere you already can order the first plaque in the series, for the 1900 version of the Thunderchild which was built to replace it’s alien-destroying ancestor. This one is a little more up to date, and since Ship’s Badges only became standard for Royal Navy warships from the end of WW2 onwards I had to get a wee bit more detailed. Hence why it took two months to design, about a week to print and about three hours to assemble and finish. Yeah, that’s why it’s a bit more expensive than the last one too.
This plaque is for the Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Thunderchild, named again in honour of her ancestor. Built at the Barrow-In-Furness Shipyards in Cumbria, this Thunderchild was launched in 1987 and commissioned into the Royal Navy in the same year. Since she was the last SSN of the Trafalgar-class she acted, in addition to her usual duties with the Royal Navy, as the testbed vessel for the Navy’s latest generation of shipboard DTEW (Directed Thermal Energy Weapon) systems and saw action in 1991 in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, shooting down incoming cruise-missiles directed against Allied shipping. She is one of only two of the Trafalgar-class SSNs still in service in 2023 and has received several refits and upgrades over the years as fitting her active-duty status.
(No, that’s not all real, it’s just my head-canon for this particular plaque. Also I KNOW the original Thunderchild was a torpedo-ram and therefore essentially a heavy destroyer, but the Royal Navy does like their initials and the Trafalgar-class SSNs are the only ‘T’ type vessels in service now. For those who will nit-pick and say she HAS to be a surface ship because the original was; The newest class of Royal Navy SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines) are the Dreadnaught-class, with the lead ship being of course the HMS Dreadnaught. The original HMS Dreadnaught was a battleship.
Mic, officially, dropped).
Anyway, this plaque is slightly larger than normal as to make detailed things I have to make them bigger, the dimensions as listed below. It will be delivered fully finished and assembled complete with two arrays of 10x2mm neodymium magnets on the rear, and two small metal plates with non-destructive wall hanging tape on the rear. This means it can be easily taken down for cleaning or swapped around with other plaques in my range if you want to freshen up your decor a little.
May God bless her and all those who sail in her!
Dimensions: 262mm top to bottom x 233mm wide x 4.5mm thick
Weloveourbees –
They visit it every day – I put some cotton balls in it soaked in clove oil, and these little green shy Orchid bees (the males) come and gather the clove oil, and rub it on their legs, to attract the ladies. It’s easy to maintain – just basically screws apart – has provided me HOURS of entertainment and has helped the orchid bees woo their women. Brilliant invention and design!
joanna diamond –
Mine is the large version, so it holds a lot more water and in Florida, it’s so hot that water evaporates quickly – which is why I asked Trevor to make me a giant one! It’s BEYOND my wildest expectations! It’s just fantastic – a real quality product – same color as the previous bee waterer he made me (that the bees love – except that one didn’t have a thread for a water bottle, so it dried up too quickly in this heat) – deep so holds a lot of water, numerous stepping stones and rims so that if a bee falls in (which she will), she can easily get out. It easily fits my sport top water bottles (so the thread is perfect) – It exceeded my expectations. Just WONDERFUL!
Weloveourbees –
My Bee Spa is fantastic – it’s very large (diameter wise), so will hold a lot of water – FITS MY WATER BOTTLE PERFECTLY – it’s quite deep, so that means it will hold a lot of water, although the stepping stones and rim edges are very convenient so bees have something to climb out on to if they fall in – this is the BEST bee watering station I’ve ever had. It’s a quality product. I am BEYOND thrilled with it!!!!
Eugen –
I got my package today all good thanks
trujilla1netzeronet –
As usual, Trevor has created another masterpiece. A very cool item!
Thank you.
trujilla1netzeronet –
As usual, Trevor has created another masterpiece. A very cool item!
Thank you, Trevor!
Weloveourbees –
I actually got this for a friend of mine who is super wealthy, has all the jewelry she could ever want – and I didn’t know what to get her for Christmas – she also loves bees and when I gave her these earrings, she was absolutely THRILLED! They’re fun, bright – well made – and she wore these to a fancy Christmas party and got LOTS of great comments!!!!! I have a pair myself and am always getting great fun comments – they are just too cute for words!!!!! Great gifts for the bee lovers in your life – you can get regular honey bees or green orchid bee earrings – love love love them! Shipping was quick, but took a while to get here over Christmas (mail delays) but Trevor was very helpful and quick email responses. Great experience. Will buy more from you.
Weloveourbees –
I live in Florida, and we get beautiful, shy green orchid bees – the males love clove oil, so I put clove oil on cotton balls, put it in the bee pod, and the little dudes come right away – rub the oil on the legs so it attracts the ladies! The bee pod is easy to take apart to put more clove oil in there – and several openings mean several orchid bees can come at the same time – it’s the most ingenious design – LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. You have made me and many male orchid bees very happy. The design is really cool, this little sphere hanging from our deck shade, so it looks cool as well as being very functional for the orchid bees. Trevor was super responsive to a question I had about shipping, great customer service, will be back. Thank you!
Weloveourbees –
Outstanding customer service – the Bee Feeder is amazing, I put some cotton balls soaked with clove oil (must be food grade) and the male orchid bees flock to it – I like this design because of the canopy, protects the base from rain – will be ordering more. Trevor is very responsive to email inquiries (was a slight delay with mail over Christmas) – buy with confidence from him, I have bought quite a few things and he’s one of the best sellers out there. LOVE the bee feeder and the color is awesome!
Ben Sharples –
Brilliant! Just brilliant! Original design and fun and cute as well! Really well printed, cool looks, and stupid (in the best way), perfect gift!
Ben Sharples –
Absolutely superb design! Very cool, nerdy, and well coloured too! Perfect combination! I got them for my wife and she loved the mix of Trek and style! Great idea!
joanna d. –
Outstanding customer service – the earrings are amazing! Great gifts for bee lovers – very happy with quality and service.