After the unfortunate bankruptcy of Eaglemoss back in July 2022, current and new builders of this ‘Eaglemoss’ 1:8 scale Nissan GT-R partwork model were left without knowing if it would ever return.
Well, after many months of behind-the-scenes work sorting out legal, licensing, and logistics hurdles, the actual manufacturer of the parts (PCT/IXO) is now offering the model again directly from their website with worldwide shipping expected to start by June 30, 2023!
For ex-Eaglemoss subscribers: While IXO is only selling the GT-R as a FULL KIT on their website, they do plan on offering discount codes to ex-Eaglemoss subscribers sometime around the end of February 2023. These codes will reduce the price of the full kit relative to the number of issues that each customer already has in their possession. This effectively means that these builders will only pay for the issues they need to finish the model.
Whether you are an existing builder, or wish to build this GT-R from the beginning, check out IXO’s Nissan GT-R product page!
As this partwork model is an Eaglemoss/Hero Collector/Die-Cast Club product, I want to inform my visitors about the recent disturbances and the possible future of Eaglemoss and these products.
UPDATE: After the bankruptcy of Eaglemoss in July 2022, it is unknown if this partwork model will ever be available again. I have removed the links from this page until we learn something new.
Recently, I have been seeing advertisements in the US from Eaglemoss about their 1:8 scale NISSAN GT-R Nismo (R35) partwork. This partwork was only available in Japan for the longest time, so I feel I had share the big news that we may see it appear in the United States!
Nismo is short for NISsan MOtorsport International Co., Ltd. and this is a replica model of the 2013 special version of the GT-R that Nismo introduced at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show as the fastest volume production vehicle around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. While much of this model would be the same as what I built here at this site, there are some notable differences. Here are a few of the changes that I can see:
The Body is painted pearl-white, with black hood vents
The Wheels are black RAYS five-spokes with colored Nismo logo
The Side Mirrors are carbon-fiber with a red stripe
There is a lot of carbon-fiber looking lower body aerodynamic pieces (front splitter, side skirts, rear valance, rear racing spoiler)
Nismo logos on the upper Front Grille and Rear Bumper
Red accents inside the lower Front Grille ducts
The headlights are different
The seats are different (Recaro with red accents)
The upgraded engine has some different colors
Unlike mine, this one appears to have engine and horn sounds controlled by the remote
I did notice something new for Eaglemoss: This model is being offered as a FULL KIT and not a multi-year subscription (you would receive all of the model parts at once). Of course, that means we would have to shell out $1200 USD in a single payment. But, for some builders this is a very welcome option!
Currently, Eaglemoss is collecting names and emails to gauge interest in building this Nismo GT-R model (and likely see how willing US consumers are to buy costly Full Kits). I will say that if I had the choice back in 2019 I would have much rather built this version of the GT-R. If you would like to see this partwork become available in the United States, head over to the Eaglemoss NISSAN GT-R Nismo site and sign up!
Building this Eaglemoss/IXO 1:8 scale Nissan GT-R (R35) partwork model has been quite an experience. The car itself is beautiful – especially the highly detailed interior and engine. For the most part, everything fit together well and the electrics worked without any issues. I was very impressed by the suspension and all of the screw/nut connections. This design seemed to work better than just driving in a metal screw and hopefully leaving it loose enough to allow parts to rotate correctly.
About the only downside I can speak of is the paint. On my model, the main body is a different shade of silver than the hood, doors, and trunk. It is almost as if they were painted in two completely different releases. Still, I usually only notice it under certain lighting. All in all, I enjoyed building this GT-R and look forward to starting on the 1:5 scale VRF38DETTEngine as part of the subscription extension!
I will leave you with a few shots of the lighting turned on. This model has limited lights: the headlights and taillights (which are cool white for some reason) as well as the electroluminescent gauge cluster. All of these lights are controlled by the Key Controller, but I did have to put another two new CR2016 batteries in it. Apparently, this remote drains the batteries even when not in use.
Throughout the subscription build of their 1:8 scale Nissan GT-R (R35) model, Eaglemoss offered some ‘Special Issues’. These issues were automatically sent, and are billed in addition to the monthly subscription.
The first Special Issue was a 1:18 Scale Model Kit and the second was a Insulated Bottle and Keychain. This time, I was offered a Crystal Case. These cases are basically clear acrylic panels glued together to make a box and they fit down into the recessed area of the Display Base to protect the completed model from dust and moisture. I received the same case for my Mercedes-Benz 300 SL build-up, so I used that picture for this page.
This Crystal Case cost $95.90 including shipping costs and entirely optional. Since I display my completed partwork builds in glass cabinets, I did not need this case and called Eaglemoss to opt-out of this offer.
Throughout the subscription build of their 1:8 scale Nissan GT-R (R35) model, Eaglemoss offered some ‘Special Issues’. These issues were automatically sent, and are billed in addition to the monthly subscription.
The first Special Issue was a 1:18 Scale Model Kit of our Nissan GT-R. This time, we received a stainless steel drink bottle and keychain, both with the NISSAN GT-R R35 SCALE MODEL logo on them. The powder coated bottle is 18/8 double wall vacuum-insulated with a soft TPE grip that should keep your drinks cold for 30 hours and drinks hot for 8 hours. They keychain is not full color, like what was shown in the offer email, but it’s no big deal:
While these cost me $34.95 USD, they will likely get some use so it was not wasted. I just wish I could get my next issues as I have not received anything since December 2020!
I have had many visitors ask about the tools and supplies that I use to build my partworks, so I have created a ‘Shop‘ over at my main build site with Amazon links to most of the items I have used along the way. All proceeds go towards supporting my site costs, not for profit. I hope you all find this helpful!
Another delay has befallen our Eaglemoss 1:8 scale Nissan GT-R (R35) partwork build. My last shipment was received back in December 2020 and Customer Service told me last week that Pack 86 (in Issue 22) is out-of-stock with no ETA. I hope we can continue this build soon!
UPDATE May 23, 2021: I spoke with Customer Service again and now Pack 83 is shown as out of stock. There is word that the doors of our Nissan GT-R are being redesigned. The wait continues!
UPDATE July 10, 2021: What do you know… Pack 83 is still out of stock with no ETA. This 7+ month wait is getting pretty ridiculous!
UPDATE July 21, 2021: I took a shot in the dark and asked Eaglemoss if they could skip the missing packs and start sending me the 1:5 scale VR38DETT GT-R Engine packs from the end of the build. At least I would have something to do!
UPDATE August 28, 2021: According to Eaglemoss, Pack 83 is still unavailable with no hope in sight. However, I have received the first 16 packs of the 1:5 scale engine build. Should I start building and publish those packs early?
UPDATE October 4, 2021: After almost a ten month delay, and right after I received the last of the engine packs, I have received a shipping notification for Packs 83-90!
UPDATE October 19, 2021: Well, I guess the floodgates at Eaglemoss opened as I have now received all of the issues I need to finish the car (83-100 minus the Floor Mats) and start the engine build. Now, I just need to get to it!
This Eaglemoss/IXO 1:8 scale Nissan GT-R (R35) partwork build-up consists of hundreds of parts, but there are even more screws! I have put a small page together that lists the number of parts and screws in each pack as well as running totals for the entire build.
I got an interesting surprise in the mail a few days ago. Eaglemoss sent me this Burago 1:18 scale die-cast model kit of a 2009 Nissan GT-R:
I had no idea it was coming and I was charged $58.90 for it. Apparently, they are calling this a Special Issue for this GT-R partwork build. Usually I get an announcement email from Eaglemoss about any specials that are offered during a build, and I am given a few weeks to opt out of them. Neither of these things happened with this one. While Eaglemoss customer service insists they sent the email (they could not give me a date), I never received it (including checking my spam and trash folders). But, it gets better…
On the same exact day, I received a large clear acrylic generic cover for the Display Base of my Mercedes 300 SL build:
I didn’t receive an announcement email for this either and was charged $87.85 for it without any way to opt out. I also didn’t receive shipping dispatch emails for either item. Ironically, up to this point, I have received every other Special Issue announcement email correctly, and then all of a sudden I somehow don’t get two emails obviously sent at the same time? I have to admit: something feels very shady about all of this!
I can’t even send these unwanted items back to Eaglemoss for a refund because I have to pay the return shipping and it would cost more than the items do (the Cover alone would be $80 to $150 due to the box size). Also, I would not be refunded the original shipping and handling. Luckily, I have a friend who builds/collect 1:18 scale models, so I think he will take the Burago kit. However, I am going to have to eat it on the clear acrylic cover and I can’t even use it or sell it. It arrived with a large crack in it due to the poor packing material protection and subsequent box damage. The outside of the box was not even marked ‘Fragile’:
UPDATE Jan 7, 2020: I called Eaglemoss again after I saw how much it would cost to ship this cover back. After a lot of resistance, they finally agreed to issue a refund for the $87.85.
UPDATE Jan 19, 2021: Eaglemoss did it again. They charged me $87.90 today for another Clear Acrylic Cover for my James Bond DB5 build, also without any offer email or a way to opt out. This time I saw it coming and called them immediately. They said I should just refuse the shipment and return to sender and I would automatically get a refund. This cover was delivered to me on Feb 2 and I told the postal carrier to send it back, which he did. They got it back on Feb 8th and I am awaiting this refund too.
UPDATE Feb 12, 2021: I still have not received a refund for EITHER of these clear covers.
UPDATE Feb 25, 2021: A few days ago, I received my next delivery of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL parts, but Eaglemoss forgot to include the magazine. I called them to ask to have it re-shipped out. Once that was done, I asked them about these refunds. The lady at customer service said this 300 SL one was already refunded back on Jan 7th, but I still had not see it hit my credit card. Something was not right. After a bit of back and forth, she finally transferred me to a supervisor. I was then connected to Christina L. who was incredible! To my total surprise, Eaglemoss customer support is well aware of my build sites and uses them heavily to help support their customers… crazy!
Christina and I talked for well over an hour about these clear cases, this GT-R model, my refunds, the missing opt-out emails, the builds, my sites, needing more US social media support, returning products, the build delays, the shipping problems, and many more issues that I and a lot of other builders have. Then today, I finally received full refunds for both the 300 SL cover and the unwanted DB5 cover I refused delivery on! It turns out the ‘Special Issue’ charges/refunds are in a different billing account and are not automatically pushed back to the credit card.
While this is wonderful in my case, I reiterated that I was not alone and others were being charged for these things without ever receiving the ‘Special Issue’ emails to opt out (I haven’t received three of them now). Thankfully, she has opened a ticket with the Eaglemoss IT department to investigate. Hopefully this will solve the problem for everyone!
Building the 1:8 scale Nissan GT-R (R35) from Eaglemoss/IXO Models
model, Eaglemoss offered some ‘Special Issues’. These issues were automatically sent, and are billed in addition to the monthly subscription.
