I would like to do an early M-3 of the 192nd TB in the Philippines. As an airplane guy, I don’t know that much about armor. Looking at what is available, which one is an earlier model from the assebly line, the Tamiya or Academy? I would also like to do a conversion for an USMC M-2A4. Is a conversion available?
Tamiya’s is a diesel engined variant that wasn’t used by the US Army outside of stateside training.
The Academy kit discussed here is probably the one you want to get:
http://www.usarmymodels.com/MANUFACTURERS/Academy/Academy%201399/Academy%201399.html
As far as the M2A4, you are in luck because Commanders Models just re-started their armor line (was OOP for half a decade or more). It is available here, but be advised, it is pricey:
http://ironshipwrights.com/armor/armor.html