And then came along EL Mod with their high end IR battling and sound, and now I see Bernelli(sp?) has a new sound card out that may offer more sound options. There are many ways to enjoy this hobby. You just have to find out which one works best for you. My tricked out Heng Longs sound better then Tamiya's, have recoil, and gun flash. Yes even in a Sherman. I own a Tamiya so I know what they are all about as well. Two different ways to enjoy the hobby, but I stop short of calling one superior to the other. The approach is so different that they should not be compared. There are two roads to travel, and to end up with comparable tanks at the end, the dollars you spend will be close.