can anyone advise me on how to make a 3-D football helmet cake? i'd like to cover it in fondant. it needs to be navy blue--i don't have an airbrush and could also use some advice on getting such a dark color on it evenly. thank you

see these threads:

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-13779-football.html+helmet

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-380373-football.html+helmet (see esp. KittisKakes response)

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-303113-football.html+helmet (pyrex bowl method)

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-182111-football.html+helmet (face mask alternative)


HTH

Below is a link to a football helmet cake I did for a customer last week.

http://picasaweb.google.com/vanillecakes/SportGameThemedCakes/photo#5103017893266836930

For the color, I colored my fondant with a combination of navy blue, black, and just a little bit of electric purple.

For the shape, I carved out the layers of cake and filled each layer with ganache. This is actually two layered cakes, with a cake board in the center and support sticks in the base cake. I iced the helmet in buttercream, chilled it in the cooler, and then made a few minor carving adjustments until I had the shape the way I wanted it. Chilled it again, and then covered with fondant.

One thing I learned in the process is that the cake can't be quite as rounded in the back as I had planned, because with the front partially hollowed out the back became a little top-heavy. I stabilized this by moving the top cake a bit forward to shift the weight.

I hope this helps! Have fun with your cake!

OH MY!!! You are unbelievable! Your cakes are just gorgeous. I'm afraid I'm nowhere near your skill level but I appreciate your sharing--am going to give it a try. did you color your fondant by hand or use an airbrush?

i forgot to ask you in my other reply--how did you go about making the face mask?

thanks,

patty

patty7276 - - - Thanks! I colored my fondant by hand. I think all three colors I used were Americolor brand (navy, black, and electric purple).

The facemask is simply fondant covered wire. I told the customer in advance that I would be using wire for that portion and they were fine with it.

I don't like to use wire if I can get away with just using gumpaste - - - but since this was my first helmet I choose to play it safe.

Have fun with your helmet!

Mistypup your helmet is AWSOME!!! I have an order for a SeaHawks helmet. I wish I could see how you did the cake inside the mask. How far did you cut into the face part? On the side of the helmet at the bottom by the notch did you build that up with BC to make it stick out a bit? I wish you had more pictures...this one is dark and I'd love to see the details.

Jacqui

ladyonzlake - Thanks for your questions. I don't have a better photo, but only about a quarter of the base cake was carved out. I wanted to make sure that it was stable, so I didn't go any farther than that. The "interior" is covered with black fondant (instead of blue) to make it appear more hollowed out.

For the ear holes (or whatever they are called - - - sorry, I'm not a sports fan....), I first cut out a fondant donut-shaped piece for each side and secured these in place before covering the whole cake in fondant. Then I formed the fondant around these raised sections and lastly I added a black fondant circle in the center of this area on both sides.

Thanks so much mistypup! I'm kinda scared to carve out too much for the face in fear that it may fall. I am using a cake board and dowels for support of the rounded part of the cake. I do hope mine looks as wonderful as yours!
Jacqui

Oh, one more thing...I just posted this as a question on the site but what did you do to get it shiny? Pearl dust?
Jacqui

I actually didn't do anything to make the cake shiny. It was just the blue fondant smoothed over the cake. In the photo, the part that might look a bit shiny is just the flash from my camera.

Thanks - and have fun!

--Sandra