Where to even begin? *New maple

[raydomz]

I recently recieved this, what I believe to be, dwarf prebonsai maple from Neil Dellinger(A+ seller, polite, and by far some of the best tree packaging I've seen..).
I've only had it about a week and already the wheels are turning, but in every direction.
As you can see, there is A LOT going on. I'm not really sure where to begin. I'm going to take the winter to really think this one through, it has a great base and I think a lot of potential so I want to do it right. Any ideas fellow bnuts?

Sorry for the pictures, with this weather I had to resort to using the painting studio. Ah, and as far as I can tell at this point, I think the first shot is going to be what I'd consider the front.
Thanks!

 

[Dav4]

Nice stock! Do you know the cultivar name. The trunk(s) seem to offer many possiblities, but I would really need to see the nebari with the trunk before making any suggestions. Good luck with it.

 

[raydomz]

Thank you! I shot Neil an email asking about the cultivar. I'm really not sure. He mentioned pinkish foliage in the spring.
I'm going to cut down that pot tonight and expose the base a little.

*New pictures taken.
I think this gives a much better idea of the over shape of the tree.
The part that is really throwing me is the irregularly straight bit right in the middle.
The top down shot is from the "front"(first) picture.

 

[JudyB]

This looks like it'll be great fun! Is that straight part to big to bend and get a bit of movement? happy new tree!

 

[raydomz]

Hey Judy!
That straight part happens to be the thickest of the trunks. While yes, I can get a little movement out of it with force of hand, I'm not sure how I would even attempt to move it without.
I'm thinking that this may be a project that requires chopping back all the trunks to within an inch or two of the main trunk and grow it out from there.
I'm excited to see how this comes along.

 

[JudyB]

You'd def. get better taper if you took them back, looks like some of them can just go back to a side branch. Looks like a fast grower.

 

[raydomz]

You're right.
Here's what I'm thinking ultimately. It may take a few years but I think it will be worth the wait. I won't really know how reasonable this is until the spring though, not really sure about the growth rate at this point.
Thanks for the advice Judy

 

[Smoke]

Gonna take mighty long time in Michigan.

 

[raydomz]

Gonna take mighty long time in Michigan.

Well luckily I've got plenty of distractions.

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Gonna take mighty long time in Michigan.

And yet another reminder why I want to leave this state so badly.

 

[raydomz]

And yet another reminder why I want to leave this state so badly.

Oh it's not THAT bad!

 

[JudyB]

looks like a good direction on the virt, keep us updated...

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Oh I suppose it's not...but still. lol -- By the way, that is a really nice virt. Good eye! Did you ever find out what cultivar this is? If it's a dwarf variety, it might indeed take quite a while to finish...but it'll be worth it.

 

[raydomz]

Oh I suppose it's not...but still. lol

Haha. I think everyone here has this general feeling.

I did not find out the cultivar. I am only judging by the very short internode length and the small branching that it is a dwarf, we'll have to wait and see.
I am half hoping it is(they're beautiful) and half hoping it isn't(they grow so slow).
Thanks for the kind words!