To be truthefull the VS tanks when i run them in the same spots i do my tamiya and HL tanks the 1/24 scale may bottom out more but to tell you the truth my tamiyas and HL tanks broke when i drive them in the same spots!! and to think at 1/24 scale it gets more abuse when driving over the same surfaces as compaired to the bigger 1/16 scale.... So i would say 1/24 for your kid will be the right choice anything but the tiger ! that one has track problems they derail to much when off roading As for sound the canon fire sound on the VS tanks sound clear and better then the muffeled distorted HL canon sound.... In fact HL got the stupid jerking also.... I did make something a while back to stop the VS jerking i never long run tested it...But it did look like it worked.

Was going to make these but never did it
[link=http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=80844]VS jerking back slow down unit video[/link]