The Caterpillar 30/30 Engineer Support Tractor in 1:50th scale was custom made in 1989.

When in 1989 the first photos of the Caterpillar 30/30 Support Engineer Tractor appeared Ad Gevers began with the construction of this unique military scale model.

For this custom project he used the basic components of the Caterpillar Challenger 65 made by Joal. On the real Caterpillar 30/30 machine is a wheel loader cabin mounted, since no similar scale model cabin was available from Caterpillar Ad Gevers used the cab from a Komatsu 350. (Can you imagine how much cheating Komatsu does at Caterpillar as their cabin looks almost the same!)

Caterpillar 30/30 Engineer Support Tractor

Caterpillar introduced in 1987 with the Caterpillar 30/30 a revolutionary new crawler tractor which is capable of travelling at speeds of over 50km per hour. The Caterpillar 30/30 Engineering Support Tractor (EST)is designed primarily for military use, has an exclusive suspended undercarriage system that enables it to operate at high speeds over all types of terrain.

The Caterpillar 30/30 15.5t rapid deployment tractor is powered by a 179kW Caterpillar 3208 diesel engine. Other key design features of the 30/30 include: a 1.2m water fording capability, a low sound signature, and full air transportability to fit a Lockheed Hercules C130 airplane.

When the Caterpillar 30/30 is running in its 179kW travel mode, the tractor's undercarriage is fully suspended and its dozer blade is locked in a raised position and its fully automatic powershift transmission gives a top speed of 54km/hour.

The Caterpillar 30/30 is changed into its 127kW work mode by the flipof a switch, which locks the suspension system, activates the dozer bladecontrols, and converts the transmission into a three forward/two reversepowershift.

The Caterpillar 30/30 Engineering Support Tractor is equipped with a Power Angle Tilt (PAT) blade. It is operated from a front mounted cab which provides excellent forward visibility when the Caterpillar 30/30 is travelling on the road and working on site. Automotive type controls improve its operating efficiency and reduce the requirements for specialized training.

During Caterpillar Power Parade 1988 at the Edwards Demonstration site near Peoria the Caterpillar 30/30 Support Engineer Tractor was first shown to the general public: