Theif! Well-ok-not-really. Unintentional, yet somehow quick midreading quitar designer! I am in the planning stages of my first build, this is actually at the top of my list less the f-hole though you make it sound interesting enough to consider it.
Psuedo thread hijack inserted here - I have only been playing for about 6 months and I have become obsessed with guitars and building. While I am a stressed out air traffic controller by day I own a small acrylic fabrication company on the side. I have specialized in custom aquariums for a long time and well, it just isn't worth it anymore. Needless-to-say I play with acrylic A LOT. And I am looking for ways to integrate some of these skills into my new passion. Soooo, of course the acrylic comes in hany with building strong templates it also comes with tools. Basically the same as any good cabinet/woodworking shop. -End hijack
MickGaurd brings up a great possibility in clear pickguards. A les paul style in a hard cell cast clear acrylic would rock! More inportantly cell cast acrylic (not the extruded crap you can buy from Lowes or HD) is HARD and does not scratch nearly as easily as the softer stuff and even if it does can be buffed out on minutes. Using an actual pickgaurd as a template or a template itself could be done in minutes.
HTH,
R