Here is the result of the plywood OATS construction with the plywood presented on the bias or end grain view.
The use of Dye's is not preferable wanting to keep things natural and all but with the plywood it helps with the desired effect.
My Grandfathers Lathe is an educational blog designed to empower the average wood worker with the humblest of shops to do above average work and generally leap tall buildings in a single bound. Weather lathe work or flat work and points in-between, my hope is that there may be something here for you.