3D-Print Your Own Racing Sparrow

Fast, elegant RC yachts you can build yourself. Designed and developed in New Zealand - with instant digital delivery and lifetime file access. View the fleet.

New

RS-Footy-305-3D

Length: 305mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $16 USD

RS-RG65-3D

Length: 650mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $22 USD

RS-Ranger-695-3D

Length: 695mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $25 USD

RS760-3D

Length: 760mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $19 USD

RS1000-3D

Length: 1000mm
Skill Level: Intermediate
STL Files: $26 USD

RC Sailboats built by the Racing Sparrow community

We continue to be amazed at the beautiful model RC boats created by Racing Sparrow enthusiasts.  Send your images to info@racingsparrow.co.nz.

Take a look at the full boat gallery page. So many fine model yachts!

ernests rs footy

Ernest’s RS Footy

Waco, Texas,
Bryn, this is yet another fan letter. I continue to be impressed with your designs. They are simply fantastic! They print flawlessly, fit together with an absolute minimum of prep work and build easily. Here is a quick snapshot of my first RS Footy, almost ready to launch.
RS Footy Jan Peter Danse

Jan Peter Danse's Footy

Netherlands,
It was fun to build, and it really does sail very well. I know it wasn’t necessary, but as an experiment I managed to get it completely smooth by sanding, filling, and applying primer.
Deniz Kuşadası RS RG

Deniz's RS-RG65

Kuşadası, Türkiye,
Hi Bryn, thank you so much for sharing this and bringing together people who share a love for sailing. The boy in the picture is my friend's son. I built him the RS65 as a birthday present. He'll be a great sailor in the future. He loves boats very much. I would be very happy if you shared a picture of him.
racingsparrow rg65 merriman

Ian Merriman's RG65

Nottingham, United Kingdom,
ian merriman uk

Ian Merriman's RS760

Nottingham, United Kingdom,
rs1000 p2 pinky

3D Printed RS1000 - Pinky - Prototype #2

Nelson, New Zealand,
RS 3d 760 radio controlled sailboat 5

Bryn the Authors Official 3D Printed Model 760

Nelson, New Zealand,
You can 3D print this exact boat yourself! The files are available in the shop. It's really easy to print and super easy to build, all parts have special joins modelled into each part. Even the rig fittings are small sturdy printed parts. The keel has carbon strips inside the prints and the printed bulb shell is filled with lead shot balls.
A free sailing model yacht made from cardboard and cellotape, apparently it sailed quite well for 15 minutes! It was 375mm long and had a proper weighted keel and working sails.

Build a sparrow in less than 3 hours!

Take a look at the blog section for a full write up about this model.
two rc model yachts, one blue, the other grey and yellow. They are both racing sparrow 750s

Hamish Coubrey

Auckland,
Hi Bryn, I recently finished building these 2 Racing Sparrow RS750s which i really enjoyed, it was a great project and kept me busy for a few months. They have been for a successful maiden voyage and sail great and now just need a few tweaks in the sail department to get them sailing even better. Thanks.
Bill Cobb standing with his two grandkids who are holding model yachts each

Bill Cobb

Zurich,
Hi Bryn,
I built an RS1000 and had so much fun building and sailing it I decided to build a couple of RS750's for my grandchildren in Zurich. Bit of juggling to get them into a suitcase but the whole project worked well and the boys just love them. Bill Cobb. - what an awesome Grandad! (Bryn).
Two racing sparrow model yachts, one red, one black sitting on cradles inside a white room

John Sterland

Australia,
A woman holding a tiny radio controlled sailboat, a Racing Sparrow 375mm. It looks cold as she is wearing a thick jacket with a hood and scarf.

An icy looking spot for a 375!

A one meter yacht, a racing sparrow design, cream coloured hull with yellow appendages and semi see-through sails

One Meter RacingSparrow - Garry Angel

France,
John Goodyear sitting on the grass with his two model yachts, one on each side

John Goodyear

England,
A young lad Woodwards launching a model yacht on it's maiden sail

The woodwards Father & Son team on launch day.

New Zealand,
a shiney red radio controlled yacht called a Racing Sparrow sailing upwind and leaning over 45 degrees

Bryn the Authors 750

A nearly finished model yacht sitting on a work bench

Racing Sparrow #3 - rigging

Auckland, New Zealand,

Racing Sparrow Blog

We share tips and stories from the model boat building community. Read all blog posts

Racing Sparrow Footy Design V1

The V1 design had her maiden sail and I was really happy with how she sails. Tracks nicely and is really easy to build.

Introducing the RS-Ranger: 3D-printable sailboat

Our latest design is robust, easy to build, and super fun to sail. It features several innovative ideas and is the perfe…

3D Printing RC Sailboats: What I’ve Learnt from Daily Printing

After daily printing for the past few years I have learnt a lot about successfully 3D printing RC yachts. It's really ea…

3D Printable RG65 Prototype Update - Video

Prototypes are sailing and refinement is underway with our newly designed RG65 Racing Sparrow. This design comes with va…

Build a balsa RC sailboat

Our eBook by New Zealander Bryn Heveldt covers strip planking, fibreglass strengthening, mould and casting techniques, electrics installation, spray painting and masking, sail making and tuning.

Learn more about the eBook
racing sparrow gary hirst model yacht sailing upwind

What our customers say about Racing Sparrow RC Yachts

Being a complete novice, I purchased your book a couple of years ago and built two racing sparrows. Building on this experience I then went on to build, from scratch, an IOM (Triple Crown design).

I've since joined a local club and sail virtually every weekend. I would just like to thank you for your endeavours which have allowed me to enter a world I never thought was in my reach.

John Sterland, Australia

Coming upon your book, "Build your own Radio Controlled Yacht" in the Napier Public Library, I am hugely impressed.

The combination of your superb photos and illustrations with your easy writing style make it a standout publication and I hope it does well for you.

Richard Spence, New Zealand

Thanks for an excellent design in your RG65. I trialled her again today in a solid 20 knots gusting higher. Even so in a steep chop and fingers off the rudder she drove upwind remarkably well, balanced perfectly.

Very impressed that a model boat can handle that with a large rig. I found the book excellent. Ive built several big boats, plus a few skiffs and without that resource building such a good boat would have been impossible.

Mike Bennett

Free model boat plans

We provide a number of different boat plans that you can build using techniques covered in our full eBook.

You can download plans for boats of different sizes and specifications.

Check out all 7 free plans
Racing Sparrow model yacht rc sailboat plans - RG65 schematic plans

More about Racing Sparrow

What is Racing Sparrow and who is Bryn Heveldt?

When I was nine years old my father, Ross Heveldt taught me to sail down at Bucklands Beach in Auckland. My wee optimist dinghy was called 'The Racing Sparrow', the nickname my uncle Bruce Curry gave to me when I was a small boy. Apparently I had an abundance of energy.

I studied at Whanganui School of Design and have been a designer / developer since 1998. I live in New Zealand.

Best wishes and happy sailing, Bryn Heveldt.

To contact me please email: info@racingsparrow.co.nz

Bryn when he was nine years old sailing the original Racing Sparrow Optimist down at Eastern Beach, Auckland