According to VP's instructions you need a clean ( un-modded ) 4.12 install patched to 4.12.2 - start it from the "selector"
I have the COG online download..not the CD..right now the version on COG is 4.13 and I haven't tried it, but from what I read here it works with the VP modpack as well..so
just a clean original install..you can move your mission files over to the new install and they will still open - if the VP Modpack is installed they will still work but with new objects, maps etc.
I have a Normandy Mission I created in the un-modded version.
I opened it up in the VP-Modpack - everything was there, but with a lot of new ships and an entirely new map showing South England where the
"British Base" island used to be.
Keep trying.