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Great looking build and thanks for the clip.
This is one of those pedals that I couldn't bring myself to actually step on.

Wow a real beauty and that OCD wiring!

I am always impressed by anyone who can make their own board and get a working pedal out of it! And I dig the minimalist look of the enclosure as well.
To me, the cat looks like she/he is looking at you and thinking "Silly human...I would kill and eat you if I could!"

I enjoy horizontal schemes...

Without a pic for context, that statement takes on a whole new meaning!

Wow, super great looking build! A couple of questions, if I may:

1. " The big take away from the VFE projects is the relay switching.  I'm going to have to rethink my switching, at least on my pedalboard regulars." -In terms of technical knowledge, I am kind of in over my head here. Why does the Alpha Dog having relay switching mean that you'll now have to re-do the switching on your other pedals? Is it a compatibility issue?

2. I love the copper look of the text on the enclosure. Since its an etch, I assume you did a reverse etch (so the letters are raised) painted the enclosure black, then sanded the lettering back to the bare metal, and then somehow painted a copper cast paint on the lettering? If so, how did you keep from getting the copper on the black background ?

Sometimes someone will post a pic their latest build in the form of an attachment to their post, instead of a link.
I've tried clicking on the email paperclip symbol, in hopes of seeing the attachment, but then I just get a gif of the paperclip... I don't really see any other place to click to open it.
This happens whether I am using safari or firefox, both at home and at work...
So how do I view the pics when they are attached?
Again, apologies for being so dumb....

Jimi, I am sorry for your loss. I too have lost a sibling, and it can be pretty hard.
However I am glad that your brother knew the right guy to leave those guitars to: Someone who will cherish them as much as the memories he holds of his brother.
I hope that time maybe eases your pain a little.

I really like the etch. especially the "Twin Peaks badge" looks nice and kind of antique with the blotchy etch marks.

Agreed! Not only the etch itself, but the design of it as well, even if the labeling is wrong.

[transparency]

As usual (for me) the art is printed on the underside of a transparency and sprayed white, then put on the pedal and finished with a few coats of miniwax clear laquer. With a little prep you can get some really nice looking results.

What a clever idea!
Mind sharing what brand/type of transparency you are using ?

[...my wife, who is one heck of a painter.]

...my wife, who is one heck of a painter.

Yes. Yes she is!
I look forward to seeing more awesome looking collaborations from the two of you in the future.

Man I wish I had the skills to build that pedal! Nice job throughout. Sounds like you may not be all that happy with that etch, but I think it has a GREAT road-worn look, like a beloved pedal that's been on someone's pedalboard for a long time. Be proud of that build inside and out!

The etch was a little rough on the edge because I wasn't steady enough with the fingernail polish and thought I could use it to repair some mask that didn't transfer from the paper when ironing.

Whenever you get areas where the mask didn't transfer, you can still often save it:
First just make sure to get nail varnish on those places where the mask didn't transfer, but you don't want etched.
When you do that, no matter how careful you are, you almost always have areas that are "overpainted."(Accidentally painted where you didn't want paint to be.) Just let it dry thoroughly.
Then get an exacto blade (with a brand new blade) and a magnifier. Slowly cut through the nail varnish where the edge of the mask  should have been.  Then lightly scratch the enclosure with just the very tip of the exacto blade where the paint shouldn't be, and you'll be amazed how cleanly the excess paint will come off and how much you can repair a less than perfect resist.  I've repaired several masks that way, and they ended up so that you couldn't tell they were ever repaired at all...

[AND]

Both an etched enclosure AND tidy guts all on one of your first builds, eh?
Nice!

The guts are just horrific ...

You say that and then post a pic showing wiring similar to everything I have ever built! lol
I like the paint pen, but since no one usually can read my handwriting, I should probably pass on that... 

Great ergonomic design, your own PCB layout, an immaculate enclosure etch, and then there's that VU meter.....
WOW! Stellar work inside and out!

Wow!
Maybe its been done before and I just missed it, but I have never seen that slick method of securing/hovering one over the other, the way you did that!

This is a 1590BS... A 1cm taller 1590B!

-I was unaware of these, but will remember them for a taller enclosure with a 1590b footprint.

...utterly awesome.....Really, really pleased with how this turned out.

Yeah, I would imagine so!