with this lighting setup it makes cleaning up the edges a bit easier

the microplane has blades which you can change, it is a great tool

the outline of the front plate after trimming down the edges

along with the microplane, I found a small flat plane really great on the bouts

after some bulk wood removal I start to create a platform around the edge

the platform is not thin enough yet for the purfling but just as a guide for rough arching. I am cautious as the spruce is easy to damage

at the end of a good days work I have the back and the front together