The four sheets of 1/4" plywood for the front bottom panels were screwed together, and a batten was nailed in place to mark the profile for the bow section.

 

I used a Bosch sabre-saw, which was a mistake. The blade drifted through the lower panels, and my expectations for 4 identical panels where totally disabused. Next time I would either cut proud and plane to the line or use a small circular saw that could cut to the radius of the curve (as suggested by Ray Brown). This was the first of many things I would do different . . . oh well, on to the next step.