Bendy handled bows are easy to make too bendy in the middle, so on those short ones especially I say bend the inner limb/handle last; start the bend in the tips and work your way in. Try to get to a four inch brace bending nothing but the outer thirds, and then start working in evenly for that D shape. Remember that if the handle is going to be thinner than the surrounding working wood it's going to have to be significantly thicker, the fades will need to taper evenly, and the handle should bend the least out of all the wood due to its more narrow profile making it more prone to set.
I'm glad you cut out your handles later than I do, otherwise you wouldn't have much to salvage
For forty inches you're looking at pretty low draw length and weight, as I'm sure you knew, but good tiller on forty inches of wood will always look and feel impressive. If you keep the weight around thirty pounds I'd even bet you could keep set below an inch if tillering goes well.
You going to post as continuing the videos? I'm sure your audience would appreciate seeing your salvaged triumph
