Hell Augustine.
If I remember correctly, I think I started the first chops in Spring. I used cut paste on any cut more than 1/2 an inch. Late that Fall, about 6 months later, I think I completed the chops. Then it was left alone until the following Spring. In Spring, branches were chosen and the tree was wired.
In regards to needle removal. White pine needles should be cut with scissors and not plucked. White pines are different than black pines. With white pine, if you pull the needles, you can damage the cambium and affect the growth in that area.
Thank you for noticing the vigor. All parts of the tree are equally strong. After the initial styling in early Spring, no work was to be done all season. The tree would be allowed to grow untouched to recover from the work.
Here are a couple of pics. The first is a virt of the initial work. The second is a relatively accurate size comparison before and after.
Rob