AusBonsai

Alepos back bud very well. You need to decide how tall you want your future tree and the style. Also time frame of development: fast or slow?????
See this
https://www.google.co.zm/url?sa=t&rct=j ... bs.1,d.ZGU

https://www.google.co.zm/url?sa=t&rct=j ... bs.1,d.ZGU

https://www.google.co.zm/url?sa=t&rct=j ... bs.1,d.ZGU
https://www.google.co.zm/url?sa=t&rct=j ... bs.1,d.ZGU
https://www.google.co.zm/url?sa=t&rct=j ... bs.1,d.ZGU

So I didn't quite get the time I was hoping for over the weekend. rough trimming only, no wiring.

right side

back

Left side


I have a couple of questions,
1) are there any rules in regard to branching I should be knowing?
Near the top, there are a couple of bar branches, should I be looking to remove one?

Don't worry too much about 'rules' There are some guidelines that will help make your tree look good:
Try to keep branches that grow on the outside of curves (this is because of the way our eyes and brain look at things)
Try to have a 'theme' - Branches all have similar shape and alignment ie if some are below horizontal you should not have one pointing upward because it will look wrong to our aesthetic brain. All branches either straight or all with bends. Because you already have a gentle bend in the trunk try a similar gentle bend in the branches.
Avoid bar branching - not only do bar branches interrupt the flow of our eye but in time having 2 branches close together on the trunk will thicken the trunk at that point leading to reverse taper which also interrupts the flow and is much harder to correct. Get rid of bar branches early. (note that this also applies to secondary ramification. Try to prune and thin so that any junction only has a V fork - 2x2 ramification.) Pines typically have a whorl of branches at each node and do need to be thinned ruthlessly.

There are also some guidelines that will help keep your tree healthy:
Space the branches out. You need to leave space for light to get to all branches so take some out to leave some space for light. (looks better in the end as well)

Raymond wrote:

Near the top, there are a couple of bar branches, should I be looking to remove one?

You will probably need to find a new apex with a side branch and remove some height. Don't be in a hurry to remove all the bar (opposite) branches near the top. ( remove if there are more than 2 or 3 ) Build your tree gradually. Concentrate on finding the best front and the first few branches.