The IDF's Merkava series has gone through many changes since it was unveiled in 1979. The Merkava Mk2 while still having a 105mm Main gun is able to take on all armour types in service with Israels antagonistic Arab neigbors. The Merkava 2D is the last and final Mk2 variant, at least as a gun tank. Merkava 1&2 hulls are now being withdrwan slowly form service as the more powerful and capable Mk 3&4s become available. The designator 2D denotes the second hull version of Merkava and D or 4th generation armour.

The legends Merkava Mk2D  is the newest  in a long line  of IDF subject matter released in the last year. The kit comes well packaged in a corrugated cardboard box with individual parts well wrapped in bubble wrap. The kit contains 5 large resin parts . These are a hollow cast resin turret, lower portion of turret, a turret basket , upper hull  and long belly armour plate. Included are two bags, one which contains all the smaller pieces and replacement steel road wheels and the other which contains a photo-etch  fret, the ball and chain material, a lead sheet for tie down straps and Identification panels, some string for a tow cable  and some wire.

The turret basket is cast as full with its appropriate cover in place. Those wishing to to detail the turret bustle on their own can get Legends kit #LF1055 IDF Merkava 2 turret basket set . This however will take some cutting and modifying of this kits resin parts.

Overall casting is excellent which is what we've come to expect from Llegends. Out of the box I could detect no warping or major problems that would effect assembly. The instructions are of glossy photosheet type with numbers pointing to part positions.  This kit fills another void  in the Merkava line, which now thanks to Legends is almost complete. Unconfirmed rumors are of a Magach 6B Batash on the way. Look for a build report soon .