DeAgostini 1/8 scale BNR32 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo

[Rezz]

DeAgostini is one of a few companies that release quite large (the largest commonly available size actually) 1/8 scale models in a series of weekly issues over 100 - 110 instalments. 
They release different models for different markets and DeAgostini Japan have release the BNR32 Skyline GT-R Nismo last month. I've made two of these 1/8 scale sized cars (one an R35 GT-R from 2012 - 2014, the other I'm just about halfway through, a BNR34 Skyline GT-R from the 2Fast 2Furious movie) so when this R32 was announced there was no way I could ignore it as it's my favourite out of all Nissans. 

Each issue costs around $20 so it costs about $2.2K when completed. I suppose it is very expensive for what it is, but the quality and details are really very good, and there are many "gimmicks" like fully functioning exterior and interior lights operated with a remote control, working steering, all doors/bonnet/boot/fuel lid open and close, the side mirrors fold in and it even has a speaker for the engine revving sounds when you turn the lights on. 

Each issue comes with a magazine that tells the story of the BNR32 Skyline GT-R Nismo from the first design stages of the BNR32 to Group A homologation and the various racing version that were run in the Japanese Group A and JGTC, and Australian Group A. 

So I plan to update the build in this thread 5 issues at a time. 

https://deagostini.jp/r32/?srsltid=AfmBOooKjxDc4EUK2rmXqMBPgyHfFJ24s4oEPJBNpnF-lFlsRoW0PE6P

[Rezz]

Starting with issues 1 - 5, we have already run into a problem...! 
Issue #4 contained 2x front brake calipers, instead of 1 caliper and 1x steering knuckle. Will have to call DeAgostini on Monday to sort it out.

Anyway here's some photos. 
Issue #1 is the front bumper, headlights and number plate.

Issue #2 is the front wheel (with "We produced with spartan air." text on the centre cap!) and tyre, the front lip spoiler and cylinder head cover with ignition coils under the centre cover... which will never be seen again.

Issue #3 is the bonnet and cylinder head.

Issue #4 is the front strut, brake disc (with laser etched metal discs) and brake caliper.
I stopped here because of the issue with the missing steering knuckle. 
Next update will be #5 - #10 in a few weeks.

[Duncan]

wow that is super detailed!

[PotatoCake]

I feel like i would be like most people who get these, excited for the first 3-6 months and then just totally forget about it. The end products do look sick tho. Ive got a 1/12 scale r32 model, dunno where im gonna actually display it once its all done!

[Rezz]

Update Issues 5 (plus #4) - 10

After making a claim about issue #4's missing part, DeAgostini Japan sent a whole new issue #4 and it arrived about 2 weeks after that. That was back in early March. It took another 4 weeks to receive issues 5 - 13 though. This update is for issues 5 - 10.

Ove the 5 issues the front left suspension and most of the engine have been completed. The quality of the castings and fit of the parts is quite good, it seems better than DeAgostini's BNR34 Skyline GT-R from the Fast & Furious 2 movie, which (to me anyway) doesn't seem to have as tight tolerances or quite as accurate castings. 

Each issue has a lot of info about the 1989 - 1993 Skyline range and other Nissan models from that era, but the focus is on the BNR32 Skyline GT-R Nismo and the various racing it did in Japan, Europe (Spa 24hrs) and of course Australia. I've included some text translated with Google Lens in some photos and will add to them if there's anything worth including. 

[Duncan]

Absolutely amazing level of detail!

It's probably worth swapping the sump for a extended/baffled one while the engine is out though

[Rezz]

On 08/04/2025 at 5:33 AM, Duncan said:

It's probably worth swapping the sump for a extended/baffled one while the engine is out though

Haven't received that part yet, but seeing as you mentioned it I do have some aluminium foil somewhere.... it'll be good for a laugh

[GTSBoy]

Fire up the 3D printer and break out the silver paint.

[Rezz]

On 08/04/2025 at 10:36 AM, GTSBoy said:

Fire up the 3D printer

I wish I had one! 😄

[Rezz]

Issues 11 - 21

Finally got around to building a growing pile of weekly issues/parts and taking some photos. I did a bit of detail painting focusing on the fuel rail and injectors... these were originally all black plastic and looked quite unrealistic compared to the other parts. Also used some Tamiya panel line accent colour to give the whole cylinder head and surrounding parts a slightly weathered 'just run in' look to it. I've been following another Japanese guy's build and he's done the same more or less. 

Also got a 1/8th scale number plate set to replace the GT-R Nismo plates that came with the kit, to go together with the 'just run in' theme.

[Rezz]

Before:


After:

[soviet_merlin]

You put the driver's seat on the wrong side!

Incredible detail on all of this. It looks like you could learn a lot about the car just from assembling the kit.

[Rezz]

On 21/06/2025 at 5:54 PM, soviet_merlin said:

Incredible detail on all of this. It looks like you could learn a lot about the car just from assembling the kit.

The detail level is about right for the money they charge for the full kit... AU$21.00 each issue, 110 issues for a total of $2,300 (I mentioned $2.2K in the first post when the exchange rate was better). $20/week is doable... 😐

[soviet_merlin]

19 hours ago, Rezz said:

The detail level is about right for the money they charge for the full kit... AU$21.00 each issue, 110 issues for a total of $2,300 (I mentioned $2.2K in the first post when the exchange rate was better). $20/week is doable... 😐

Oof, I don't think you should add it up like that! It sounds much better at $21 per issue. I don't see any problem there if you enjoy the process and the result. I really like the magazine side of it with all the little tidbits and facts.

Also, if anything, these forums are all about spending unreasonable amounts of money on hobbys. I wouldn't call it a self-help group because people generally suggest to spend more

[GTSBoy]

1 hour ago, soviet_merlin said:

I wouldn't call it a self-help group because people generally suggest to spend more

That is self help. Encouraging others to spend more than me, makes my spending relatively less ridiculous.

[MBS206]

1 hour ago, GTSBoy said:

That is self help. Encouraging others to spend more than me, makes my spending relatively less ridiculous.

I was thinking it's helpful in clearing any doubt that everyone needs a bigger turbo and a new aftermarket ECU.

Or an engine swap and sequential box...

[GTSBoy]

3 hours ago, MBS206 said:

I was thinking it's helpful in clearing any doubt that everyone needs a bigger turbo and a new aftermarket ECU.

Or an engine swap and sequential box...

These are also true. I do try to separate myself from the rest of society though. I'm starting to get evil DCT scented dreams though.

[MBS206]

7 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

These are also true. I do try to separate myself from the rest of society though. I'm starting to get evil DCT scented dreams though.

I've thought about DCT, and I think in pretty much every way sequential wins.

You still have a pedal clutch, which means you can make it take off exactly how you want.

There's no computer trying to work out if you're about to go up or down a gear.

Without looking at the math, I reckon sequential will be a quicker shift.

How they're setup, both can only go up or down 1 gear at a time.

Did I mention no computer needed, so it can't ruin your day with some weird edge case with the sequential?

I've not really ever found an auto box I've ever been 100% happy with even in normal daily duties, and the few DCT vehicles I've driven have the same issue.

I would be intrigued to take a crack at reprogramming a DCT and seeing how well I can truly ruin my day for myself...

[Duncan]

Yeah Ecutek has recently delivered a level of tuning/customisation for the R35 gearbox, will be interesting if the changes are worthwhile or don't make a big difference to driveability

[GTSBoy]

And I was seeing in a vid last night that MaxxECU is emulating the original BMW ECU comms to the DCT controller (the original one that is built into the DCT) so that you can just use that, and not have to do an external TCU cludge like they started with.

I mean, props to the guys who bravely committed and put the time and effort into the external TCU approach, but there were a lot of gearboxes destroyed in the extended beta testing (read that as paying customers who were not necessarily aware that the logic wasn't fully up to scratch before they jumped on board) programmes of many of these things.