If there is one thing HL's have a better setup on, is the turret gear..much more robust then Tamiya with bigger teeth,etc. As far as electrics I would stick with Tamiya....easy to install and bullet-proof, and like you said they offer excellent sound..HL's sound gets the job done, but you'll be much happier with Tamiya if you can afford it. I would be careful with metal chassis especially with the PIII as its already a robust, great running little tank. You'd be better off just getting the metal wheels & suspension/track upgrades and of course gearboxupgrade(steel gears). There are a ton of exterior details you can purchase to really make it "pop"(i.e. aerials,intake grills,scale barrel,etc.). you'd be better to put your cash into those things ratherthenan "all metal" chassis...a lot of guys getentrancedby that "all metal" voodoowhich is so prevelant around here....[:'(]