[Giving up on hand jointing.]

When you jointed them together in the vice, did you try using clamps or handscrews on both ends so that they don't shift as you plane them?

[Bridge setup query]

Violadamore, if you look at the second image, there is a lip of varnish visible in the upper bass corner.  The angle of the camera is low, so the reflection of the varnish berm in the plate starts to look the same size as the berm in front of the bridge. If the camera were higher it would look smaller and less symmetrical. 

[varnish as usual]

That is a gorgeous colour.