Hi Martyn ! Happy that you joined this thread.
I’m a big fan of your minimal surface sculpture in oak.
I’m exploring strategies for this challenging piece, and I could sure use some advice from someone like you.
Yes, the plan is rough-out the top third, then finish it, then go on the same way to the middle section,
then do out as much as I can on the lower section, and finally tell the sculptor he ought to finish the footing by himself 
My equipment allows me to work in a 5-axis fashion.
What do you think ?