A 3D printed RC car can be nearly all plastic: one fully printed 4WD build reaches 60 km/h, with only the electronics, screws, universal joints and tires bought. It took about a year, according to Hydrance Robotics, the YouTube channel that built it and found PETG worked best.
Scale Addiction, a YouTube channel focused on scale models, spent about a year and a half on a detailed electric 1/8-scale car. Reddit owners advise PETG, TPU or nylon and metal bushings at pivot points.
Here is what a printed RC car involves, what you still need to buy, and what creators learned.
What You Print vs What You Buy
Prices checked on Amazon Oct 16, 2026. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.
| Buy | |
|---|---|
| Chassis, suspension arms, steering, body | Motor, ESC, servo, receiver, battery |
| Wheels and hubs | Tires (or print TPU), bearings |
| Gearbox housings | Metal driveshafts / universal joints, screws |
Popular 3D Printed RC Car Kits
- Open-source buggies and crawlers on Printables, MakerWorld and Thingiverse
- Paid kits from designers (check what electronics each one needs)
- Print-in-place novelty cars
Tips for a Strong 3D Printed RC Car
- PETG over PLA for the chassis; creators found PLA too brittle
- Use heat-set inserts for screws that get removed often (threads and inserts)
- Avoid thin cross-sections where crash loads concentrate
- Print spare parts for the parts that break
Best Printers for an RC Car Build
| Printer | Price (Amazon, Oct 16, 2026) | Why it fits | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab P2S Combo | $779.00 | Enclosed, dries filament, prints PETG and tougher materials | Check price |
| Creality K2 Combo | $549.00 | Large enclosed bed for chassis and bodies | Check price |
| Bambu Lab P1S Combo | $549.00 | Enclosed and dependable for PETG | Check price |
What YouTube Creators Found About 3D Printed RC Car
These are findings from popular YouTube videos, paraphrased from their transcripts and credited. They are the creators’ experiences and claims, not my test results.
- Hydrance Robotics (Hydrance Robotics: “This Fully 3d Printed RC Car Goes 60kmh”) spent about a year on a nearly fully printed 4WD car. Only the electronics, screws, universal joints and tires are not printed. He broke several frames where crash forces met a small cross-section. After testing filaments, PETG worked best and PLA was too brittle. He added heat-set inserts after seeing a CNC Kitchen video.
- Scale Addiction (Scale Addiction: “I Spent 1.5 Years Designing This Fully 3D Printed RC Car Masterpiece”) spent about a year and a half on a detailed electric 1/8-scale car and plans to print the body in PETG. He noted that the transmission servo was too weak and burned out during testing.
- On Reddit, RC owners say chassis and arms are possible but nothing is indestructible. Common advice is to print in PETG, TPU or nylon and keep metal bushings at pivot points.
A Fully Printed Masterpiece
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you 3D print a whole RC car?
Nearly. Electronics, bearings, screws and usually tires are bought.
How fast can a 3D printed RC car go?
One creator’s fully printed 4WD car reaches 60 km/h, by his measurement.
What filament for an RC chassis?
PETG for most builders; nylon for advanced users.
How long does a build take?
From a weekend for simple kits to many months for custom designs.
Sources
- Hydrance Robotics: “This Fully 3d Printed RC Car Goes 60kmh”
- Scale Addiction: “I Spent 1.5 Years Designing This Fully 3D Printed RC Car Masterpiece”
- beyondRC: “The CHEAPEST 3D Printed RC Car I’ve Built!”
- r/rccars: Best filament for RC car parts
- Amazon product listings for the printers linked above, October 16, 2026
Related: Things to 3D Print for Kids | How to 3D Print Replacement Parts | Bambu Lab P1S vs P2S | Creality K2 vs P2S
Notes and disclosure
Note: Printer prices come from Amazon listings on October 16, 2026 and change often. The ideas below come from popular YouTube creators and Reddit threads, credited where used. My own hands-on results will be added after my planned test prints.
Affiliate Disclosure: If you purchase an item through the links on this page, I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel.