STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR STORY

What-if imagination or anime-accurate recreation

Before you touch any materials, before you think about containers or plants, you need to decide one thing:

What story are you building?

A Mecha & Moss Terrarium is not just a display — it is a moment captured in time.
The same RX-78-2 can feel completely different depending on the story behind it.

This decision will shape everything that follows:

• how you build your terrain
• how you weather your model
• how you integrate it into the environment

At Green Chapter, we guide beginners through two clear directions.

Mode A — What-If Scene

A world where nature has already taken over

This is the most accessible starting point.

Instead of following Gundam lore, you imagine your own scenario:

• a RX-78-2 abandoned after battle
• a machine slowly reclaimed by moss
• a quiet jungle or forest environment

You are free to interpret:

• the position of the model (fallen, leaning, half-buried)
• how nature interacts with it
• how much time has passed

There is no need to match references exactly.

This makes What-If builds:

• easier to start
• more forgiving in composition
• stronger in atmosphere

These scenes often feel calm, aged, and natural — where the environment becomes the main character.

Mode B — Canon Recreation

Rebuilding a moment from the Gundam universe

This approach is more structured.

Here, you are recreating a scene that could exist within the Gundam timeline:

• a confrontation between units
• a battle along a ridge or terrain
• a defensive or tactical positioning

You are no longer just imagining —
you are translating a scene into physical space.

This requires:

• correct scale between terrain and model
• believable positioning
• terrain that supports movement and action

Compared to What-If builds, Canon recreations:

• require more planning
• require more space
• demand higher accuracy

But the result is more dynamic — it feels like the scene could continue at any moment.

Choosing Between the Two

If you're unsure where to begin:

• Choose What-If if:
  • this is your first Mecha & Moss build
  • you prefer mood and atmosphere
  • you want a more flexible process
• Choose Canon Recreation if:
  • you already build Gunpla
  • you enjoy recreating scenes
  • you want a more structured challenge

Both approaches are valid — they simply lead to different outcomes.

What You Should See

At this stage, you should have a clear direction for your build.

You should know:

• whether your scene is a What-If or Canon recreation
• the general mood and intention of your setup
• how your RX-78-2 is meant to exist within that world

If you’re still undecided, revisit both directions and choose the one that feels most natural to you.

This decision will guide every step that follows.

Continue to STEP 2: Plan Your Scene

Now that your story is defined, the next step is to translate that idea into a physical layout.

You will begin testing:

• how your RX-78-2 sits within terrain
• how rocks and wood support the scene
• how composition starts to take shape

Proceed to STEP 2: Plan Your Scene →

You’ve completed this step in the Beginner Paths. Continue to the next guide to deepen your understanding and move one step closer to building your own living miniature world.