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How do I achieve life-like fish scales on a cake???

post #1 of 17
3/8/10 at 9:44am
Thread Starter 
Hello fellow cakesters or cakers....not sure what we're called (LOL!)

I have a cake due this coming Saturday...the person wants a cake that resembles a fish. I want to go all out and surprise them. I've attached a pic of what I'd like to replicate, but I'm stuck on how to achieve the scales......any ideas??? Also, I don't have an airbrush machine, but I do have a Preval sprayer I am thinking of using to get a similar effect with the color.

I appreciate your help and feedback!!!

~ Pedro
LL
Sweet Regards,

Pedro Diaz
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Sweet Regards,

Pedro Diaz
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post #2 of 17
3/8/10 at 11:04am
I don't know how to do those scales but it looks like they are "stamped" in with something like the end of a tool. I have seen fish scales "stamped" in with the back in of a piping tip though. I'll be watching this thread to see what others say.
Never mistake kindness for weakness.
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Never mistake kindness for weakness.
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post #3 of 17
3/8/10 at 11:23am
i have the stamp for fish scales. just haven,t used it. yes, i see demos of them using the big end of the piping tip and press this into the fondant. makes lovely fish scales. i am sure you will get other answers also. hth i love this fish . it looks so real. i got my scale stamp from jeanette pholman at the ices conveniton. she does great work.
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post #4 of 17
3/8/10 at 11:38am
I've made a fish cake and to make the scales, I rolled out the fondant then cut many circles with the back end (round) of any decorating tube. Then you layer them on and overlap at the edge where one side touches the cake. You start at the bottom and work to the head. HTH, but it does look different than that pic.
I'm a mother of 3 boys. The youngest has Autism, would love to hear from other parents of special needs kids.
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I'm a mother of 3 boys. The youngest has Autism, would love to hear from other parents of special needs kids.
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post #5 of 17
3/8/10 at 11:53am
I have a fish cake in my photos and Iused the wide end of a tip and it looked great especially after all the dusting powder colors are on.
mary
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mary
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post #6 of 17
3/8/10 at 12:23pm
I made my fish scales with the end of a decorating tip but that fish in the pictures almost looks like it is covered in buttercream. Look closely at his tail. I think that effect would be hard to do with fondant.

I just added an additional photo of my tackle box cake so you could see my fish close up. I had a lot of trouble with the scales and they aren't the greatest, but this is what you can do with fondant and an icing tip.

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1321916

I still think the fish in your photo might be done in buttercream. If it is, then his scales are some really fancy spatula work.
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post #7 of 17
3/8/10 at 12:35pm
The portion of the fish closest to the head almost looks like bubble wrap was used to imprint on the icing... icon_confused.gif
I'll never fit in a size 6 if I keep having cake for breakfast.
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I'll never fit in a size 6 if I keep having cake for breakfast.
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post #8 of 17
3/8/10 at 12:37pm
It's a mystery. Wish we had a closer picture. Do you know who made this cake? Is it from CC?
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post #9 of 17
3/8/10 at 12:41pm
i found a really easy, inexpensive way to get scales. I just used an onion bag. (onions removed of course icon_lol.gif ). The bag stretches and lets me control how big or small to make the scales. I guess a potato bag would work too... i just stretch it and press to fondant/buttercream. Shocked me when it worked. I was just experimenting as ususal... and sometimes i just get lucky. I was making dragon scales, but it would work for fish and snakes too.
laughter isn't the best medicine. It's the cure.
Grabbing my bowl of faux-'nache and running from the ganache police!!
link to Jello MMF recipe: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6934662-.html#6934662
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laughter isn't the best medicine. It's the cure.
Grabbing my bowl of faux-'nache and running from the ganache police!!
link to Jello MMF recipe: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6934662-.html#6934662
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post #10 of 17
3/8/10 at 12:43pm
looks like bc to me, and the end of a knife to give the scale pattern.
xx
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post #11 of 17
3/8/10 at 12:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tesso

i found a really easy, inexpensive way to get scales. I just used an onion bag. (onions removed of course icon_lol.gif ). The bag stretches and lets me control how big or small to make the scales. I guess a potato bag would work too... i just stretch it and press to fondant/buttercream. Shocked me when it worked. I was just experimenting as ususal... and sometimes i just get lucky. I was making dragon scales, but it would work for fish and snakes too.



Do you have a photo? I'd like to see this effect.
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post #12 of 17
3/8/10 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
YES!!! melmar and tesso....that's exactly what I was thinking....a potato bag or bubble wrap!!!! LOL!!!! I think I'm going to give it a try. Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!
Sweet Regards,

Pedro Diaz
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Sweet Regards,

Pedro Diaz
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post #13 of 17
3/8/10 at 1:06pm
I dont have pics. because i was just playing around. It never dawned on me to take pics of my play work. I think i might take some in the future, just for this purpose. sorry i dont have any visual for you. but i really suggest you give it a try. its is a lot of fun to experiment with the design. Make sure you do some practice first.

oh... i almost forgot. i used dowel rods at each end of the bag to maintain the shape i wanted. just slide them through the holes and it is much easier to control the bag.
laughter isn't the best medicine. It's the cure.
Grabbing my bowl of faux-'nache and running from the ganache police!!
link to Jello MMF recipe: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6934662-.html#6934662
Reply
laughter isn't the best medicine. It's the cure.
Grabbing my bowl of faux-'nache and running from the ganache police!!
link to Jello MMF recipe: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6934662-.html#6934662
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post #14 of 17
3/9/10 at 9:44am
I used an allen wrench for the scales on this cake:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1164175.html
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post #15 of 17
3/15/10 at 6:16am
Thread Starter 
Hey everybody! Thanks for your tips, ideas, suggestions and support!

The cake came out great and it was a HUGE hit!!!!

Tesso, I followed through with the potato bag idea. The design came out PERFECT!!!! I couldn't have asked for anything better. I only wish my camera was better cuz I don't think the pic gives it justice, but check it out for yourselves below. Hope you all like.

Have a great week!!!!!
LL
Sweet Regards,

Pedro Diaz
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Sweet Regards,

Pedro Diaz
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