Platoon Commander

[Pyrotechnics]

This is likely an incredibly dumb and nooby question, but as I've recently got into the hobby I have yet to have the models to use a proper platoon (I got a BForce for Christmas but that command squad was used for my CCS) and I was wondering: How do you make your platoon commander stand out as an officer without making him look too high-ranking? I was thinking that if I used the...coat legs (I use cadians) then he'd look too similar to my Company Commander. I then thought of using the coat legs to indicate a bodyguard instead.

So, to dig out the actual question from the pile of ramble: How do you make your platoon commanders look like officers without looking like your CCS?

[upguardsandatem]

Hi there, don't know if this will be any help at all. I've been faced with the same question but I'm using all older metal minitures. I'd say give them both a peaked cap so you can see they're officers but make sure your Coy Cmd has more stuff! In your case using plastics, maybe just use normal legs for your Plt Cmd so he fits in with his more front line role. When it comes to painting give your CC more gold trim than your PC, or gold for CC and just silver for you PC. Also sqaud markings will help.

[DadCRO]

My PCO looks like an ordinary guardsman, but I painted his aquilas gold instead of silver.

[Ignatius]

You can make it any way you want!

You can have them look like privaleged officers complete with medals, trenchcoats, and peaked caps. Or you can have them look like a regular guardsmen with a 2nd Lieutenant bar painted on his shoulder.

Or anywhere in between. In warfare line field officers will often replicate their regular troopers looks as much as possible, to avoid being taken out by snipers. It depends on your regiment? Are they proud and confident? Make them look officer like. Are they practical and realistic? Make them look like troopers.

Now your specific question; take a regular guardsmen, and put a peaked cap on him. Simple yet effective. Or you could focus on making your Company Commander stick out more as an officer. Like making his trimmings gold, and put him in a tactical posture. That should make your platoon commander look less officer like.

[badgersplatter]

Perhaps have a browse through a shop that sells lots of different systems, for single characters or officers there are lots of non-GW miniatures you could easily stick a laspistol on.

[syphon]

Of all the posts, I find that this one is simplest and quickest. It also doesn't involve getting extra stuff.

Jan 14, 2012 11:34:59 GMT -5 DadCRO said:

My PCO looks like an ordinary guardsman, but I painted his aquilas gold instead of silver.

Squad and rank markings are easy ways to distinguish ranks. In fact, in real life it was/is often the only way to distinguish officers. After all, people with peaked hats are easy to pick off by snipers. Unless they wear refractor fields.

[vegna]

as above i use gold on my better troopers. Also I now use metal minies as my CCO AKA Creed and Lord Commisar. quite different to any plastics

[spazmunke]

my PCS and CCS do look the same, other than coloring. All my squads have a 2 color band on their left shoulder plate. CCS is all gold, while PCS is half gold, half their platoon color.

[Shostak(AWOL)]

Right now my platoon commanders are the metal cadian ones, which could be approximated as normal Guardsmen's legs, the command squad torso with the big eagle and a peaked cap. IMO they're blatently officers without looking overpoweringly officery.