In the beginning…

If you are like me, a 7mm scale model maker, in my case one who dabbles in both standard and narrow gauge modelling, there are several forums out there, RMWeb, NGRM Online, Western Thunder. Plus discussion forums or social media groups for the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association, the Gauge O Guild and the 7mm Scale Society. So why start blogging?

I’ve been a member of all the above for several years with various levels of activity. But all have disadvantages as well as the advantages that posting on them brings. Some are members only, restricting the reach. Others have issues where they don’t have the facility to host pictures and all require duplication to post on the different platforms. 

Over the years I’ve posted threads on particular narrow gauge projects on NGRM Online, which lost their photos in the Photobucket debacle of a few years ago. In addition I’ve had a thread on RMWeb that’s evolved into more of a blog than just an account of my model making. The major outage earlier this year and failure of the back up systems to do their job has resulted in a similar loss of illustrative material.

Having enjoyed following various online model making blogs, my frustrations in the above has helped me make the leap into the blogging world. My aims with this blog are to maintain greater control of my content, make access easier and in a central place whilst also enabling me to share those posts with the online forums I’m a member of more easily. 

So welcome to the Melyn Valley, my 7mm scale world set within my own imagination nestled somewhere in the Cambrian mountains of mid Wales where one can escape the trials and tribulations of the real world for a little while.