"Learning to Love the Pig" Topic

I often hear that Peter Pig make the best 15mm WW2 on the market. I've perused their website for years and I have to admit, the variety and prices are great, the dimensions and scale are great, the weapons look good and I even find the poses to be some of the most dynamic and believable that I've seen. But… that face… the Pig face looks like an eggplant with three deep gouges in it for unidentifiable orifices.

Now I know we are talking about 15mm tall models here, but the face is probably the most important part of the figure to me… it is the thing that gives the model its character. And I am not saying a model's face has to be perfect either—in fact, I like every face to be quite different and unique, just like in the real world. To be honest, this is the same reason that I dislike plastic models… the auto CAD designed clone-faces lack personality and individuality. But the Peter Pig face just doesn't look like a face at all. Sagging tomato on the compost heap? Maybe. But a face it is not.

Am I overreacting? Can I learn to love the Pig? Are there ways of painting the models to downplay the "kneaded bread dough" look? Any pictures of very well painted Peter Pig WW2 models would be helpful.

As a bonus question: what's the verdict on Peter Pig's tanks? I have seen a lot of 15mm tank manufacturers and I honestly have no idea which is considered the best. From the pictures, some Peter Pig tanks look a little wobbly or deformed when viewed from head on (but this may just be my imagination). How do they rate in comparison to other companies for correct dimensions, extra detail, casting quality and so on?

Learn to live with the face. You've already said you like everything else.

As you said the faces are 15mm figures, paint the face you want.

The tanks are nice. The gun barrels are oversized to prevent breakage. Another thing to learn to love… or not

In all the newer ranges the old style face is gone. With the older figures it's never been a problem for me.

As dragon6 said "paint the face you want".

Vehicles have always been very nice and durable too. Never looked "wobbly or deformed" on my tabletop.

They are 15mm, the hands and faces are tiny flesh coloured blobs. Slap on an inkwash and you are good to go.

The tanks are generally very nice, albeit quite heavy, you really know you are picking up a PP Panther. The Shermans and Stugs are things of beauty.

I actually love the faces, I find them easier to paint, too much detail in 15mm makes it hard to paint distinguishing features but I find with PP a few good strokes and its highlighted nicely..

Love Peter Pig figures faces- paint flesh and wash and they are done. Remember looking at them on the webpage they are blown up to a degree that you will never see in the flesh.

Vehicles are excellent. Can't think of a single duff figure or vehicle.

I love Peter Pig figures, too. The poses are natural and the ones I buy from the Colonial range are full of energy and variety. And the service is second to none. I live in the States and recently placed an order that arrived in a week. I call that kind of international service outstanding! Not to mention, the kind folks there are very helpful. Go Pig!

What's the problem with the faces?

Don't have any of the WWII line, but I have a small number of WWI Brits, the faces of which are fine(and better than the Freikorps Brits I've also got). The officer has good and distinguishable 'tash. Granted they don't stack up that well against some of the more recent, or indeed some of the very best older ranges, of larger sci-fi 15's I'm more familiar with.

[edit]The only reason I don't have more is becuase they are true 15 compared to most of the figures I've got (and he stopped his sci-fi range).

5500 different figures, 1800 packs. Best illustrated website for any 15mm range ( big pictures, not hidden by a paint job) Invented the 1/100th to 15mm vehicle match, 15mm Vietnam, resin WW2 vehicles etc. etc

The sculpting has changed over the years. Hopefully it has got better?? If the figures are as bad as you fear, then OK. Apologies. But at least you can see an enlarged photo on the PP website before you make a purchase.
We do our best, but would not be arrogant enough to say we are liked by all. One member of TMP even goes out of his way to be rude to us.

One day PP will be gone but until then we will look after our customers to the best of our ability.

If any of our stuff pleases you, then we would be grateful for your order.

best wishes

martin

Martin, there's no pleasing everyone, no matter how hard you try. But I'm a huge fan. I sure hope Peter Pig is around for a long, long time!

I am a fan-boy from way back. I like how tough they are – I've only had one PP figure break* in 20 years of using them.

* A rifle that got bent 180 after hitting the floor. Don't worry, I converted him to an artilleryman by putting a shell in his hands.

Hi Martin, I hope that TMPer was not me! To be clear, I don't think I was being critical of PP (maybe it could be construed as constructive criticism, however). There is so much I like about the figures, after all, and I hope I got that across!

All the Peter pig figures I've ever purchased came direct from you Martin, and you know how many are involved. Wouldn't have done all that if they didn't suit.

No complaints, either with product, or service.

Duck

Support appreciated. Have a look at the latest range of Russian scouts if you want to see what is being produced . The rude chap was the "mad hater".

martin

The figures look really nice.
What I think is very refreshing is the immediate feedback and the acting upon suggestions that we see from Martin Goddard. That's much appreciated.