Patrons Only- Forward Field Station (August 2023)

If you're reading this, you're a paid subscriber- thank you for supporting my work! This is the first of several behind the scenes posts for the upcoming "Forward Field Station". Most of what you see here will be sketches, design notes, and initial parts details as I work through the design process. The final design will be released freely, but by subscribing on a paid tier you get to see far more than just the final post.

Put simply the current plan for the FFS is a field workstation. There will be limited space and budget, so it won't do everything. Think of a tech station you could easily operate from a warehouse or a forest.

Before we begin, these projects are rarely linear! Some weeks we may see a little progress, or a venture into other builds. I have the new workspace I've carved out in mind, but that's for another day. Project parts and tools I link to are affiliate links. This means that (usually Amazon) pays me a small amount for the parts when you click the links I provide, but Amazon doesn't dictate or really even have a say in what I make or build. These are legitimate projects I am making, not just infomercials rehashed as influencer blogs. The affiliate links don't cost you anything extra, and if you use them, thank you! Many other sites don't have affiliate programs, but I still link to those too.

With that out of the way, this project will likely take some time- and if all goes to plan you'll come along for the ride as I look for better 3D modeling tools and improve my designs. The part files and designs, etc. will all be published as a public post, but your subscription gets you access to this feed. Thank you!

Core Ideas

The core ideas are all laid out already, but here's what I have in mind so far. A rugged workbench or project area that is suitable for tinkering or project work, but able to be set up just about anywhere. This means working in the wind, light rain, outdoors, in a garage, etc. I'm not trying to take it to the tundra, but that is an admirable goal itself.

General Shapes

As you can see in the first rough sketch, I am thinking of variations on the square. I'll need a container, likely just some kind of box, but the workspace should be square to make it easier to use for a variety of projects. The tabletop will be square tiles too.

The general shape will hopefully stay the same, but the dimensions and scale will definitely change over time- do I make my own case for the table parts? What size canopy can I procure or make myself? A ton of variables will go into this over time.

Power Considerations

At least for now, I won't be tackling power- firstly there's not going to be any room. Secondly, you will need interchangeable packs depending on what you use, and there's really not much sense in reinventing large portable power setups- or an extension cord.

Weight & Transportation

I haven't decided yet on the weight limit, but I'd like to keep it reasonable so that one moderately strong person can lift it, or a smaller person can push/pull it up a simple ramp. The smaller and lighter the final design, the better. This box will be designed to go into the back of a truck or SUV, or simply sit in a garage. These are all ideas held loosely- they may change too.

Aesthetic

The look and feel of this build will probably look a little similar to my past work, but at this point the Recovery Kit is around 4 years old. The Field Unit is closer to 10, and my last major build was over a year ago. I do have fun with the look and feel, I am excited to see where this will go.

Thank you for reading the update- I haven't decided if these posts will ever be public, but for now, thank you for reading them in your inbox! If you've signed up on the website too, you can read them there. Thank you so much for your support!