Okay....I was asked to do a large Marine Corps birthday cake for the fall, and I have been trying to figure out exactly HOW to do it! I am looking to do a cake similar to the Marine Corps Emblem cake, done by Maria Short of Creative Pastries. Rolled fondant, looks fabulous. But...how can I do it? Any ideas? I want it to look very professional.
Help me fellow bakers!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that it has to serve 300 people..... 
300 people? wow! this is definitely a bump, but as my hubby is a (non active) marine (semper fi!) i want to keep track of all the postings here.
hey, i was just browzing another website and found these! marine logo cake transfers!!!!
http://www.bakingshop.com/cakes/patriotic/edible2.htm
good morning (would someone come hit me over the head and put me back to sleep???)
ok...some questions:
1) 300 you say?! does it have to be all one cake or can it be several
2) the original is a round mult-tier....is that what you want or can it be square, sheet etc?
3) are you looking to do just the emblem in rolled fondant w/ BC base or do the whole thing is some kind of fondant.
the emblem itself will not be all that hard...just lots of little parts you'll have to assemble...the trickiest part will be the eagle and the detailin on the rope, etc.
Well, I wanted to do a round cake stacked on a sheet cake or something like that.....how big of a cake would I even need for 300??? I have no idea. I think the hardest would be the eagle....looks complicated!
ok...well now.
what you can make depends upon the size pans you have.
12x18? --> yields apprrx 100 1x2 servings or 70 1&1/2 X 2 servings
16 inch round? (2 layers)--> yields apprrx 100 1x2 servings or 75 1&1/2 X 2 servings
18 inch 1/2 round? (4 of them to make full 18 inch round, 3 layers) --> yields apprrx 130 1x2 servings or 100 1&1/2 X 2 servings
of course: your serving amounts might vary depending upon how big you cut the pieces.
so....
if you do have the 18" 1/2 round ...that would get 100 servings (using big servings) leaving 200 to go.
that means you would need 3 more 12x18 sheets to finish off and have a little extra for the bigger appetites. (total of 210 servings) or could just do 4 more and have 280 servings (total 380...enough extra just in case) and it make it eaiser to get a nice symmetry to the cake.
speaking of which: 5 sketchs for options of how to arrange
#1) sheets make 24x36 rectangle, round plunked in middle
#2) same for sheets, round off set so only over back half of sheets
#3) sheets still 24x36 but turned long waysa and round off set so only 1/2 over the sheets
#4) round in middle overlapping corners for four individual sheets (the easiest to do)
#5) (seen from edge) stair step effect. round at back and highest. then two steps, each made from 2 sheets put together to gets a 24x18 step (narrow to side, wide facing front) (second easiest and I like this one best)
(more in next post)
ok...now to "deconstruct" the cake so you can construct it.
so you have your 4 18 inch 1/2 rounds stacked to make one big 18 inch round, filled and slathered in buttercream. You can see in the image that some type of decorator comb was used to get ridges on the sides of the cake after the top was iced smooth. and the whole thing is sitting on one very strong -- PLYWOOD -- gold foil covered base.
the rope around the side is TWO long pieces of fondant rolled out to make indvidual ropes and then twisted together (every do those kinds of hair braids??) and then hit with gold dust.
the top gold circle could be: a fondant covered cake board (looks to be 16 inch by size of gap to edges) or a large piece of fondant (i'd do the board..easier) again hit w/ gold dust. For the little dents on the side, take a dowel and dent away.
grey circle : again either fondant covered cake board or circle of fondant colored that grey. Edge is smooth and has been painted (gee you'll never guess) gold!!! (again -- oy! are we using lots of gold on this cake!)
red circle: fondant with embossed lines. emboss using dowel pressed into top. If dowel is long enough can go full across circle. done so there are 28 wedges.
gold rope around red: fondant rolled out and hit with gold (or could do royal for seamless effect)
emblem in middle: I'm betting this was done in a sugar mold of the emblem using either sugar or royal and then brushed w/ (one more time now...) gold. if you don't have a sugar mold could build it up by making a small hump of fondant, or cake, or royal or sugar in mini-ball pan/mold and then free hand sculpting the eagle and drap out of gumpaste or fondant.
as for what to do on the sheet cakes other than color coordination borders and a message, I have no idea. (sorry)
HTH
Doug
You are absolutely amazing. You have given me so much inspiration for this cake. I cannot wait to get started!!!! 
woo hoo -- looky what I found: a mold that will make a 6 inch globe and eagle!!! and price is reasonable too! at -->> USMC Museum Store
and a few left over thoughts:
for letters -- blow up actual logo until can use to trace in royal icing so get exact font.
make the whole top thing OFF the cake days in advance so can plop it one as one piece at the end.
to save on gold...do only the other 1 1/2 inch of gold disk or...after placing grey on what will be gold, do only the showing parts and edges of grey in one go.
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ok and now I have a sheet cake idea too...(these things take time and being bored driving to the mall!)
"whether from north west south or east.
no matter the challenge, no matter the mission
the marines do it the best
and Happy Birthday we're wishen" (one line per sheet cake???)
(doggerel, i know!)
Okay, Doug....I said it before, but you are amazing! That eagle mold is absolutely perfect. I can use that and the rest will be a cinch. When I make that cake and post it I promise I will let you know. Also, I will be sure to ask you if I have any more questions. You are so creative!
If you feel like searching the CC gallery. Here is the link to the album which contains military cakes: (you might pick up additional ideas here.)
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-photos_thumb_59_1_dd.html
The outer circle is not gray but rather navy blue. The Marines make a big deal of their birthday celebration. They were founded on November 10, 1775- so this is their 231 birthday. There is an official ceremony involved with the cutting of the cake and distribution of the first and second pieces of the cake. I love the use of the seal on the cake. Since you will need several cakes to make up the whole. You might consider using several of their mottos or the words of their Hymn.
From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of UNITED STATES MARINES.
One of the most famous pictures from world war II is that of the Marines rasing the flag on Iwo Jima.
The outer circle is not gray but rather navy blue.
Thanks for catching that!. (i was working only from the photo which makes it look grey...my bad! should have checked the USMC's site)
Since you will need several cakes to make up the whole. You might consider using several of their mottos or the words of their Hymn.
From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of UNITED STATES MARINES.
One of the most famous pictures from world war II is that of the Marines rasing the flag on Iwo Jima.
oooooo....EXCELLENT 
ideas for those sheets (far, far better than my lame attempt!!!)
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