I have purchased 12 sapling "sango kaku" japanese maples - I believe they
are also called coral bark. I intend to do a forest planting on slate.
The trees are very young and whippy. I have been looking through my bonsai
books for plant postioning for a 12 tree group and am still somewhat unsure
of which direction to take as i have not yet tried a group. Can anyone refer
me to an online tutorial or images of a 12 tree group/forest style planting?

I have posted the slate base in the IBC gallery it is under the
"Genus/Species?" heading. I have lifted the ash from the slate and potted
up. I want to use this base for my group.

Thanks

I have purchased 12 sapling "sango kaku" japanese maples - I believe they
are also called coral bark. I intend to do a forest planting on slate.
BRBR

I wouldn't plant Japanese maples on slate. They will need very frequent
watering. I would plant them in a group planting tray.
You want an odd number of trees. Keep the extra one in case one dies.
Some of the books have diagrams of various number group plantings. Peter Chan,
Bonsai Master Class does.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)