BSEM-4K – the Ukrainian armored medical evacuation vehicle

BSEM-4K – the Ukrainian battlefield floating medical evacuation vehicle with 8x8 wheel scheme, capable of performing search and rescue tasks in the combat zone, built on the basis of the wheeled infantry fighting vehicle BTR-4 "Bucefal". It was designed by the Design Bureau of the Ukrainian Kharkov Morozov Machine-Building Plant. The prototype, designed as an individual initiative, was demonstrated at the “Aviasvit-2006” exhibition, which took place in Kiev in June 2006. Serial production began at the end of 2008. The first batch of 10 vehicles was adopted by the Ukrainian army in 2009. The medical version of the BTR-4, designated BSEM-4K, was slightly delayed in its adoption, compared to the combat version. The number of vehicles produced and in service is unknown. The design of the BTR-4 is significantly different from the BTR-60/70/80, previously constructed at this plant during the USSR time. Their design is closer to Western armored vehicles, such as the German TPz "Fuchs", with the commander and driver's compartment, located in the front of the hull, the engine and gearbox compartment - in the middle, and the fighting compartment in the rear. Soldiers enter and exit the vehicle through the rear doors, while the commander and driver have their own doors on the sides of the vehicle. The BSEM-4K fighting compartment is redesigned and raise, a ramp is installed in the rear plate, allowing free access to the entire space of the medical compartment. That ramp is equipped with a smaller additional door, opening to the side. The medical compartment is equipped with chairs for medical personnel, places for the wounded on stretchers, it contains basic medical equipment, a first-aid kit, bandages. The machine's armor is of a special shape, that protects against bullets from heavy machine guns and almost all types of sniper weapons. The BSEM-4K does not have its own built-in weapons.

Although, it looks complicated, the model is not. It is well designed and almost maximally detailed; it will suit both medium-experienced and experienced modelers. But, as we mentioned, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, carefully and thoroughly, without rushing and simplified some nodles, this model will suit both advanced beginners and modelers with little experience. The model is without engine, medical compartment and commander-driver's cabin detailing, it has a perfectly recreated body, chassis, its suspension, all external details and other equipment. The model is painted in a well-used standard camouflage of Ukrainian army medical vehicles. There are a lot of colors reserves. The textual instruction in Polish is not very extensive, explaining only the most complex stages of assembling the model, and perfectly complement the large, informative and easy-to-read graphical instruction.