12mm for O Group (updated 12 05 21)

[TacticalPainter]

I've been working on some of the new Victrix 12mm for O Group over the last few weeks but realised I haven't posted anything about it here, so this is a bit of a catch up. I thought people might like to see what the Victrix models look like once painted. So far I'm very impressed.

I've started with the Germans. The infantry set comes with more than enough for a whole company and includes additional figures with tripod mounted MG42, panzerschreck, panzerfaust, radio operators and, rather strangely for a set of late war Germans, a 50mm mortar team.

I've never painted smaller than 20mm so this is a new journey for me and considering my latest figure painting has been 28mm First World War Germans it's been an interesting shift in styles:





I've also wanted to collect for the Lardies 'I Ain't Been Shot Mum' and 12mm seems very suitable for those rules too. With that in mind I've tried to base figures to work for those rules and O Group. O Group has no specific basing convention or sizes other than one stand represents a squad or section. For the bases I've used 20mm square bases left over from various 28mm plastic sets. For a section I'm using 3 figures per base as in the picture above.

IABSM is at one figure to one man and so that I can remove casualties I have also made up bases with 2 and 1 figure. The two figure bases can work just as well as sections for O Group and so I can get a full company at 1/1 for IABSM and a full battalion at one base per squad for O Group all from a single box of Victrix figures.

The single figures make up the loose change I will need for casualty replacement and so I've made up extra bases and, at a stretch, they can always stand in for a squad for O Group if I really need them:





Here's a German company for O Group:



Using most of the same bases and figures, here's a squad for IABSM:



You'll see that the platoon leaders for IABSM are on smaller bases, but the company commanders for both rule sets are on a larger base with a leader figure and a radio operator:



Support weapons are on the same size bases as the infantry:



Both rule sets have off board artillery and mortar support, so while these don't need representation on the table I wanted a way to show how much support was available during a game. For that I've created a base with a single mortar team that can sit off the table or at the back of the table and I will use a dice frame to record the number of missions or batteries available.





In addition to the core infantry bases this gives a range of additional support and command:



Here's all the German infantry, enough for a company at 1/1 or a battalion for O Group.



I'll post something about the German armour next.

[Hu Rhu]

When I first opened the thread, all I saw was your 28mm WW1 figure and I thought - Blimey - thats good for 12mm.   

And then I scrolled down and saw the actual smaller scale figures     and I was still blown away at the detail you managed to get onto them.  They are cracking. 

Lots of inspiration for my attempt, when my figures arrive.

[fred]

Excellent work - you have really done these figures justice!

I’ve just painted up some, and have enjoyed painting them compared with metal 10mm figures.

[steders]

When I first opened the thread, all I saw was your 28mm WW1 figure and I thought - Blimey - thats good for 12mm.   

Same Here!!

Very nice, I may steal the idea for the mortar support.

[FlyXwire]

TP, these look great!

I especially like your mortar stand idea with dice, for tracking missions.

[Soundchaser]

 I can’t paint like this. Amazing. ‘Course... I do 15mm and have speed in mind. Great work.

[TacticalPainter]

Thanks everyone, glad you like the work so far. As promised here are some of the German tanks.





While I had the airbrush out it made sense to work on a number of projects at the same time, including this Revel 1/72 PzIV, which sits casting a maternal glance over a brood of Victrix PzIV.



I found a set of four cheap tanks on eBay (AU$10, including postage, that’s about £5). Victrix sets come with six tanks and I can’t see a situation where I would need six Tigers or Panthers, so while these are not up to the standard of Victrix, they are good enough.



With a bit of care they come up quite well.



I was trying an ambush scheme on a 1/72 Panther so tried to see if I could replicate it on a smaller scale.





They sit well with the Victrix models:

[Hu Rhu]

The painting on those tanks look great and the differences between the Victrix ones and the Chinese ones are unnoticeable.  Do you have a link?

[TacticalPainter]

The painting on those tanks look great and the differences between the Victrix ones and the Chinese ones are unnoticeable.  Do you have a link?

Yes, try here https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Plastic-Tank-Models-4pcs-Set-Assembling-1-144-German-Classic-Toy-Accessory-Safe/363241427874?var=632427161604

A word of warning. They are not quick to arrive (China to Australia), so may take even longer to other parts of the world. I order a lot from China, travel time can vary and sometimes take a long time (as in 2-3 months), but everything has always turned up in the end.

[TacticalPainter]

With the Germans complete I then started on the British and I'm working on those at the moment. I've probably completed about 60% of the company/battalion. Like the Germans these are well proportioned and crisply moulded, although I'd have to say I prefer the Germans for the sculpting and poses.





I'm basing these the same way as the Germans, so they can be used for either I Ain't Been Shot Mum or O Group:





I have the Cromwells, the Fireflies and the Shermans. The only strange thing is that the Shermans are M4A3, which were not supplied in any number to the British. At this scale it's not a major issue but I don't understand why these are not M4, M4A1 or M4A4.

[fred]

Great work on all of those, I especially like the British tanks

I do find the Victrix Sherman offerings a bit odd, and do wish they had gone down the PSC route a bit more, with offering some more options in the tank kits.

Fortunately I don’t need anymore 10/12mm British stuff as I have piles of Pithead armour and infantry, with a good back up of Pendraken.

For people looking for plastic tanks, worth a search on eBay for Dragon or Takara 1/144th which both have (had) good ranges of German kit, with some others available. These used to be available pretty cheaply, but I’ve not looked for a while.

[FlyXwire]

TP, I like the Brits here as much as your Germans, and maybe more!

(love that wood grain....taking 'stock' of that) 

To dial-down a bit more of what Fred has added, the Dragon Models' Panzer Korps kits (unpainted) sets, can still be found reasonably priced on ebay at times too (they're the same as the CanDo collectible tanks, but in kit form).

[gamer Mac]

Lovely work
I can't paint wood grain on 28 mm never mind 12 mm

[vodkafan]

The posts of your meticulous preparations are just as absorbing to read as your battle reports. Very good idea to be able to use the same basing for two different rulesets. 

[Clach Umha]

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