I am trying to make a Lego train cake and I would like to stay as close to the dimensions, in relation to each other, as possible. The actual train measures 10" long by 2" wide by 3 1/4" high so it is a very narrow, sleek train (and that's just the engine - there are two more sections the same length!). I am wondering if I make each section 3 inches wide by 5 inches high and 12 inches long, will the cake be sturdy enough or will it fall over? I am planning on using straws as dowels and will be making chocolate WASC and it will be covered in fondant. Will this work??

first -- to keep proper scale proportions...the train engine would have to be 15 inches long.

skip the dowels ---

this only needs to be two layers of cake.

bake a 2" full height and a 3 inch full height. that will give the 5 inch height when stacked.

by time you put a good stiff icing between the layers, crumb coat and cover in fondant it should hold itself together.

I would NOT try to make the track going under the train...just glue each car to cake board w/ icing and then should stay put...and add track as deco fore and aft.

tho' if you do all three cars, you're going to need one humongous board! (at least 40 inches of train at scale.)

Hint skip doing the whole oval -- just do the train w/ a bit of track. get a 1x12x8 board (that's thick X width X length) and cut in half to 1x12x4 for a custom cake board that would hold the cake in a straight line. Just be sure the board is free of warping and then cover properly or sand well and seal w/ food grade polyurethane.

Thanks Doug! I was hoping I would get your expert advice!

I was only planning on doing the actual train but not sure if I want to go that long because that will be a crazy amount of cake (we are having 40 people -20 of those kids to the party but I certainly don't mind leftovers for the sake of design!). Do you think it would look funny to make the engine and the caboose (or whatever it is!) a touch shorter but keep the middle car about 2/3 the length of the engine? Finally, do you agree that it should only be 3 inches wide? Thanks!!

welllllllll.....

being one who loves symmetry...

I'd do the 15 inch cake.

and yes the 3 inch wide would work.

so two engines (push me pull you) -- 30 inches and the car in the middle another 10...

that's 40 inches.

now serve that in 1 1/2 in long pieces and you get 26 servings

hmmm...ok make that 1in long pieces and tah-dip -- 40 servings.

each 3 inches wide by 5 inches tall (that 15 cubic inches of cake vs. the 8 cubic inches of the standard 2x2x2 wilton party size -- a very "healthy" size of cake!)

You're my hero!! Thanks Doug! I love symmetry as well so I'm not sure what I was thinking!!

thought -- if don't want to buy a big wooden board.

put each piece of the train on it's own separate cake board -- put the two engines so their rear ends are right at edge of board and then put the middle car on a board that is only as long as the car. then you can push all three boards together to get the train, but be able to carry it from kitchen to table in three easy pieces.

I may have to do that, although we do have a board that would work, because we'll be transporting it to a park a few kilometres from our home - will it survive the drive okay? (I think that's why I was thinking of doweling it).

well if you drive sanely -- or worse like a little ol' gramma (not the one from Pasadena!) out for her Sunday drive at 1/2mph -- and have a big enough flat space in the back of the car, then it should make it there just fine.

Now if drive like the little old lady from Pasadena or like I do where every turn has to be roller coaster worthy (hang on and scream!) then no way!

if you do dowel (which I still think would be over kill if you glue it to the board w/ icing) then go easy on them lest they cause the cake to rip. You'd want them to go into the cake board. (if doing a wood board, premount them to the board and then lower cake over them.)

Well, here's the final product! I went with making the measurements exactly 50% larger than the actual train. I think it was a lot easier to make because I was able to measure and then enlarge so it ended up being proportional. Transporting it was interesting as our van was absolutely full of bbq's, many coolers, balloons, etc. and the cake board actually rested in between the seats, sitting on the armrests with me half turned around holding it straight!! I've never had a longer 10 minute ride! Oh, and the middle car didn't anchor down well with icing so it kept sliding every time we turned a corner!! Oh, well, we made it and ate the cake and my son and his guests were thrilled! That's the most important thing!!

Thanks again for your help Doug!!

Hey! That's cool!

Very, very

Theresa

What a spectacular job! Your cake had to be the topic of every conversation. You should be so very proud.

That is really cool. Very nice job!!

::applause::

yippee!

a job VERY well done!

congrats!

OMG I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! i was asked to do a cake that incorperates trains and legos i guess this will be it. unless you have any other ideas including legos and trains if so please pm me thanks your all awesome

Your cake looks perfect. And i agree with pp, symmetry is important to me and that made the cake look even better!

Thanks everyone for your amazing comments!!! You've made my night!!

Awesome cake! I love it!