: Shown is a photo with the stem placed over the area that would be
: cut out. My problem is that I would have expected the bow form
: to have the internal stem already cut out if that was what I
: have to do. Is the reason it is not cut out in the plans because
: the stem was something that was thought of AFTER the plans were
: drawn and produced?

There are several ways to build the bow, the internal stem is just one of those. (read about this in Nick's book) If the internal stem wasn't used then the bow form would be incorrect shape if it had been cut out ahead of time. Btw, normally I'll run the internal stem back to the first full frame and butt it against that frame. Hot glued to that frame gives some twisting resistance to the internal stem, more so when the first couple strips are in place at the sheer.

Bill H.