The Academy Plastic Model Company has been producing kits since 1969. The company is famous for its endless research and development and the excellent model kits that result from the effort. Academy has been awarded 'Model of the Year' at the Nuremberg International Toy Show many times and the quality of their model kits meets or exceeds that of any other current manufacturer. M4A2 was a diesel powered variant of the M4 used during WWII by the US Marines. It was armed with a 75mm cannon. They included fording kits for amphibious landings. Fording kits allowed tanks to cross water obstacles.