Won't be much new to see tonight. I rough cut the top block and tack-glued it on with cement. Tomorrow I'll start making the big mess and begin carving. Some are making mold bucks and molding these areas from 3/32 sheet and the like. Really nice! I don't make too many exact copies so can't see the investment in time for a one or two shot deal. Weigh less? Really not sure and can't be much. That depends on how thin you hollow the block. My mind says a block hollowed to 3/32 or molding 3/32 sheet should weight the same sans normal wood variations. If its that thin you'll still need some former support to hold shape long term. Set, game, match. However if I knew I were going to produce at least 6-10 like copies I'd probably do so. Here it's done and I'm on to other things while another is still sanding that mold buck.