re: Need construction ideas

I like Bently’s idea too. That’s the elegant way to accomplish the shape but once you get the shape, I would still recommend hammer veneering. It would be very easily done and you would not:
1) be limited to commercially available species in hardwood veneered plywood and
2) have to find raw veneer to match the said commercial p/w.

You have the hide glue. Get some cheap veneer and do a little practising. Once you learn the technique doors will open that will allow you to go places you never thought you could go with veneer.