Japan Black Bench

I recently did a projected where I did a paint on / wipe off finish to some pine. It looked fantastic.

Now I'm about to embark on making a long ply studio table and I'd like to replicate the finish.

* I'll pick a piece of ply with serious grain / patterning as the top surface so there's actually something to highlight
* I'll test a piece first (serveral in fact)
* I'll also try seriously thinned black stain (I've got a batch of Feast & Watson stain / JB here)
* If I use either finish I'll have to contend with doing it in sections due to the soak / dry timing dangers unless there's any tricks (spraying thinned stain over the 3000 x 600mm bench and doing a prompt wipe from end to end?)
* It will have to be clear coated after to actually for a work surface - but what? F&W recommend French Polish over JB but I think I'll need a much harder work surface (and office desk)
* I'll probably need to partially fill the front edges (I'd like to put a bull nose on the front edge so the ply layers are obvious) as they're likely to seriously soak up any stain

Any suggestions would be welcomed!

Cheers, Antony.