Unit Marking System (preview)

Extra Crispy · Post by **Extra Crispy** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 6:30 pm

One thing I really like about the FoW bases are their sloped edges. You can paint small unit ID stripes on the rear - easy to see, really useful, and don't detract much from the visuals of the game. But my half-scale bases are sheet metal and I was looking for a way to replicate that system. I've tried labels (limits the base's usefulness), painted dots/stripes (I can't paint neatly enough) and so on. Then while watching my daughter at her craft table, I hot on it: beads! Small, cheap, colorful and consistent. They were perfect.

The beads used are called "Seed Beads" and are maybe a little less than 1mm wide when placed on edge. I picked up beads in a dozen colors. $2.50 will get you a small tube containing several hundred beads.

I mark each combat platoon with blue green or yellow. Squads get one, two or three beads of the appropriate color. Command stands add a white bead to the mix. HMGs always use red, flamethrowers have an orange bead, and so on. Here are some shots of German infantry with the new base marking scheme.

A German squad with CiC and 2iC leading:

Close up, showing CiC from 2nd squad, a team from second and one from third squad:

Close up showing how the company commander is marked, sample HMG stands:

Group shot of the German infantry company of two platoons (blue and green at top) and four HMG platoons (red, bottom)::

RedLeif · Post by **RedLeif** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:51 am

Good job, looks nice. I used a color code, just using paint, many years ago but switched to just printing out small numbers and gluing the paper to the stand.

Bcorpswriter · Post by **Bcorpswriter** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:09 am

Here is an example of what I used for a huge Megabattle we did recently. Every platoon is color coded and the labels clearly identify the type of team.

Bcorpswriter · Post by **Bcorpswriter** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:13 am

Well, I read the thread about how to post pics and tried every way I know how but nothing works. Can someone help me out?

Extra Crispy · Post by **Extra Crispy** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:25 am

Imgur added a few characters to your URL...I deleted the ? and the 1

Extra Crispy · Post by **Extra Crispy** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:27 am

I thought about labels like that but didn't want to have to change them for every battle. Especially since I often proxy one model tank for another. For example if I were short a StuG III G I might just use a III D instead. heresy I know. Hence my desire for a non-specific ID.

Bcorpswriter · Post by **Bcorpswriter** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:19 pm

@Extra Crispy, thanks for the assist with the pics.

piersyf · Post by **piersyf** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 6:57 am

Colour ID systems are fine for some, but being colour blind they are useless for me. I use specific number ID tags as well, as most of my formations are based on actual units. This does lead to some unfortunate cases; I like the Sherman Jumbo, but my US armour div never had them (7th)... I like Hetzers, but my Germans never had them.

I also have decided on a method for moderns that utilizes the mish-mash of stuff I've collected over the years; a simple red vs blue system where you are allocated elements. This also applies to my WW2 Russians that can also serve as North Korean or early Middle Eastern. For them I'm going with metal bases and just plop the model on the appropriate base using magnets.