STEP 2: Plan Your Scene
This guide is part of Green Chapter’s Beginner Paths: Mecha & Moss. In this series, we explore how to combine miniature landscapes, moss ecosystems, and model kits to create immersive living worlds with structure, storytelling, and atmosphere.
Follow the guides in sequence for the best learning experience.
Translate your idea into terrain and scale
After choosing your story direction, the next step is to turn that idea into something physical.
At this stage, you are not building the terrarium yet.
You are testing how your RX-78-2 interacts with terrain — using rock and wood as placeholders.
This is where most beginners either succeed or struggle.
Start With Terrain, Not Plants
A common mistake is to think about moss and plants too early.
But plants do not define your scene —
structure does.
Start with:
- rocks to define mass and elevation
- driftwood to create slopes, direction, or tension
- empty space to control composition
At this stage:
- no moss
- no planting
- no container
Just terrain and model.
Think in Scale and Weight
Your RX-78-2 is not a decoration — it is a physical object inside your world.
Ask yourself:
- Does the terrain support its weight?
- Are the rocks large enough to feel believable?
- Is the model standing, leaning, or falling naturally?
If the terrain looks too small or too flat, the illusion breaks immediately.
This is why testing early is important.
Position Before You Commit
Instead of fixing anything in place, use your hands to explore:
- rotate the model
- tilt it forward or sideways
- move it higher or lower
Try different variations until one feels right.
A good composition usually has:
- a clear focal point
- a sense of direction (movement or stillness)
- balance between model and terrain
You are not building yet —
you are deciding.
What You Should See
When this step is done correctly, your layout should already feel intentional.
You should be able to look at the scene and understand:
- where the RX-78-2 belongs
- how the terrain supports its position
- what the viewer is meant to focus on
If the scene still feels unclear or unbalanced, continue adjusting the terrain and model until it feels natural.
This stage is not about speed —
it is about getting the foundation right.
👉 Continue to STEP 3: Choose Your Container
Now that your scene is defined, the next step is to place it into a real constraint.
The container will determine:
- how much space your scene actually has
- whether your layout still works within physical limits
- how your composition needs to adapt
Proceed to STEP 3: Choose Your Container →
