All good but it now has it's full size - more or less. That means only one thing. Going backwards. So what you are doing is reducing into a bonsai rather than growing into one - if that makes sense. I have seen this kind of work done before at demos but have never understood the concept behind it. That could mean I'm a bit slow of course. But to me it always made more sense to reduce the tree down as far as it could go and use that as your starting point. In other words, you only get to the point you are at now after many years.
That is not to say that you cannot develop your ''pads'' by not allowing further extension and clipping for density but you will not achieve the same interest and convolution in the branch form unless you build each branch slowly a few cm/year.
Otherwise you end up with a linear branch which you can easily follow from trunk to tip.
In reality, the really interesting (and visually pleasing) natural branches are formed by constant replacement of the leader due to die back, wind damage, insects, shading or other reasons as can be seen here..
melcut.JPG
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