Desktop 3D printers have truly transformed how makers and hobbyists approach their projects. With 3D printing, it’s become much easier to manufacture all sorts of stuff, including bodies and parts for 3D printed RC vehicles.
RC vehicles are very popular within the community of makers. They’re fun to build and entertaining to play with. However, it can be a rather pricey hobby to get into. With the help of a 3D printer, the cost of many components can be significantly lowered, making the hobby more accessible.
In this article, we’ll present our top choices for sites for 3D printable RC bodies and parts. If you find a design you love but don’t have a 3D printer available, don’t worry! Try Craftcloud! You’ll have access to a wide selection of materials and finishes, as well as a range of different professional printing services to choose from.
At Your Fingertips
Those who make their RC cars from scratch mostly use pre-produced components like servos, motors, steering mechanisms, and suspension. With 3D printing, however, it’s possible to have full control over the design and manufacturing of the body as well as the chassis. If you prefer to be guided along the way, we’re pleased to report that sites like Daniel Noree’s Open R/C Project feature his own project guides and community builds, complete with instructions.
3D printing in this particular hobby field is great news, as every maker is able to create unique bodies and parts that will suit both their taste and the chassis itself. These designs don’t have hugely complex geometries, which means it’s possible to make them on an FDM 3D printer. In case of more intricate details, like certain bumpers, fuel caps, and exhausts, a resin 3D printer is a great tool to begin with.
It’s not crucial for you to have 3D modeling skills to create custom RC designs. There are sites that offer plenty of 3D printable models, so we’re sure you’ll find something that suits your taste and needs.
Considerations
Considering the amount of work that goes into making 3D printable bodies for RC cars, it’s no wonder that most of the designs aren’t available for free. However, we managed to find a few sources with good offerings, and most importantly, reasonable prices.
In selecting our contenders for our top picks of sources for 3D printed RC bodies, we filtered our choices with the following considerations in mind:
- Wide selection: It’s important to have a wide selection of models to choose from so that every maker can find something to their taste.
- Quality models: Quality models ensure easy 3D printing and proper fit of parts underneath the body.
- Additional support: So, you have the STL files; now what? We’ve noted whether the selected sources provide additional guidance or resources.
- Affordability: The whole point of 3D printing a body is to have design freedom while also keeping the price down. All of the sources below offer fair pricing on their quality models.
Now that we’re set, let’s go through the list!
Scale 3D RC
Scale 3D RC is a site exclusively focused on selling 1/10th scale 3D printable models of car bodies suited for mounting on an RC chassis.
The straightforward site design is easy to use, and models are divided into several different categories, such as commercial and civilian vehicles. There are also accessories like a drink cooler and keggers.
Models are separated into categories based on the measurement of the wheelbase, which is handy since users can easily pick appropriate sizes for the project. There are lots of models available, and it’s good to know that all of them were designed to be printed on machines with a build volume of at least 200 x 200 x 180 mm.
The simple approach of the site makes it easy to choose and order the quality models that are on offer.
- Assortment: Wide selection, spread across multiple categories
- Types of support: 3D printable files only
- Price: $5-$15
3D Sets
If you love what you do, chances are you’ll succeed, they said. Well, that’s the case with 3D Sets, a business idea that was brought to life by two RC enthusiasts.
The founders of 3D Sets recognized the potential of 3D printing in the space of hobby RC assembly, so they’ve gone ahead and launched their unique brand. They design 3D models for certain vehicles, including the body, wheels, and interior, which are then sold as a package alongside detailed assembly guides and links to relevant products to complete the RC functionality.
Since each of the vehicles offered by 3D Sets has many 3D printed components, it’ll take you some time to 3D print them all. However, the final results will look stunning. Each model can be easily customized. For example, your Jeep doesn’t have to have a roof, or perhaps you can add a roof rack or tube doors.
- Assortment: Six vehicle types that can be customized with various (cool) accessories
- Types of support: 3D printable files with step-by-step build guides as well as parts lists depending on the model
- Price: $0-$50
Thingiverse
Thingiverse doesn’t really need an introduction, does it? Just in case you don’t know what it is, it’s one of the biggest online sources for 3D models. Fortunate for us, there’s a dedicated category for RC vehicles, but along with car bodies and parts, you’ll find other vehicles such as drones and boats.
As you’d expect from such a large repository, there are more than a few RC bodies and components available to download. If you already have some experience and know which exact RC component or body you’re after, Thingiverse will serve you well.
If you’re a beginner and are looking for a 3D printed RC build, Thingiverse is a great source, as models are often free and more often than not there are helpful comments about printer settings from other makers. However, it can be get a bit confusing if you try and find each 3D printed component itself by browsing Thingiverse, as there are many out there published by different makers.
- Assortment: Wide and varied with a dedicated category
- Types of support: 3D printable files with print instructions and additional resources depending on the model’s creator
- Price: Free
Printables
Printables is Prusa’s online 3D model repository, and in typical Prusa fashion, the site is well-organized and hosts a number of different 3D models spread across multiple categories.
In fact, there’s a category called RC & Robotics, where you’ll find several RC bodies and accessories for Arduino projects. There’s lots to find, including a Tesla Cybertruck body and all sorts of cars, race cars, and trailers.
Printables offers other unique features, such as a blog, a forum, and contests page. So, there’s plenty of support from both Prusa and other makers here.
- Assortment: Wide and varied, with a dedicated category
- Types of support: 3D printable files with print instructions and additional resources depending on the model’s creator
- Price: Free
Cults
Cults is yet another 3D model repository that’s grown significantly over the past few years, accumulating many users and models. When it comes to finding 3D printable RC car bodies and parts, there’s a lot to see.
Besides the search bar, Cults allows users to categorize models by tags. RC, OpenRC, and 1:10 are some useful tags to help you get started browsing their assortment. In terms of model selection, you might see some overlap with other websites, but there are still enough unique models to warrant a place on our list for this particular site.
The vast majority of models are free, but there are purchasable models, too. Overall, we believe that Cults represents a solid choice when searching for 3D printable bodies and parts.
- Assortment: Wide variety with thousands of free body and part models
- Types of support: Mostly files, but assembly guides, print instructions, and videos depending on the designer
- Price: $0-$40
MyMiniFactory
MyMiniFactory is a well-known 3D model marketplace with plenty of content to find and inspire your prints. There’s a dedicated category for RC cars, but a simple search will lead to a number of models suitable for use on an RC chassis.
Because of MyMiniFactory’s popularity, there’s a reasonably wide selection of models available, although it’s predominantly based around trucks. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering that trucks are usually the most popular RC body type.
- Assortment: Thousands of models in a dedicated category
- Types of support: Mostly files, but also additional detailed instructions and other resources depending on the designer
- Price: $0-$30
Pinshape
Pinshape is an online repository for all sorts of 3D models. Upon typing “RC body” in the search bar, you’ll be presented with a good number of models to choose from.
Sites like Scale 3D RC and 3D Sets may be better alternatives in case you’re looking for more variety. Nevertheless, there are a few good models to be found on the site.
- Assortment: Not the widest, but there are a few noteworthy models
- Type of support: Primarily files only
- Price: $0-$30
GrabCAD
GrabCAD is a large online community of designers and engineers, and it hosts a CAD library with more than 4 million files available for download.
While some other sites offer a wider selection of models, GrabCAD offers them all for free, and they’re quite cool, too. There’s even an awesome off-road Beetle.
As GrabCAD is an active online community, there’s often a working comment section beneath each model. This can be useful for you to look at if you encounter any problems with the models.
If you’re tired of similar selections of RC bodies being brought to your eyes, try your luck on GrabCAD. You might find a true gem of a 3D model!
- Assortment: Not very wide, but there are a few really cool and high-quality models
- Types of support: Primarily files but also manuals, parts lists, demonstration videos, and links to external resources, depending on the creator
- Price: Free
CGTrader
CGTrader is an online 3D model marketplace, similar to Thingiverse. It offers models for many different applications, including animation, VR, AR, and 3D printing.
If you’re a fan of some of the world’s most legendary cars like the Toyota Supra, Buick Rivera, Ford Mustang, and Dodge Charger but are looking to do a custom RC car project, you’ve come to the right place. The easiest way to browse their extensive assortment is to activate the Automotive or Car filters in their category for hobby and 3D printing models.
There are hundreds of free models, but the vast majority of the models for sale, with around 85% costing under $25.
- Assortment: Hundreds of car bodies with a wide variety of car types
- Types of support: Files only
- Price: $0-$145
3DExport
If you’re looking for a source that can offer lots of RC models, 3DExport might just be the perfect place to check out. There are thousands of 3D models of bodies and parts from all sorts of vehicles.
Similar to CGTrader, the easiest way to check out the assortment is to scroll through the models in the Automotive section of the hobby and DIY 3D print models category. In case you’re unsure about which body to go for, you should give this site a chance due to its large selection. From sports cars and legendary vehicles to buses and trucks, chances are most users will find something to their liking.
There are very few free models available on 3DExport. Fortunately, the purchasable models are pretty affordable. The vast majority cost between $5 and $40.
- Assortment: Hundreds of vehicle bodies
- Types of support: Files only
- Price: $0-$185
License: The text of "3D Printed RC Car Bodies and Parts: Top 10 Sites for 3D Print Files" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.