I am wanting to do some 3D display cakes and haven't a clue what i can use! round and square dumy cakes are easy to get hold of but what can i use to make a teddy bear or a dragon?
Also how long do fondant display cakes last?
thank you in advance for ideas

I find it best to make 3D display cakes out of cake. I don't use my best flavorings...skip the salt, the expensive vanilla, maybe use shortening instead of butter. Then I carve it and coat it in RI and let that dry, then add the fondant. I used several coats of RI, to get a fairly thick layer.

It lasts quite a long time like that. I kept a contest entry for several months before it started to deteriorate, and it might have lasted longer if I'd had it in a glass box or some other protected environment. Just lightly wet the RI (very lightly, or it will dissolve) to make the fondant stick. (I dampened a sponge and sort of gently wiped it, then immediately put the fondant on.)

You could do it without the RI, just ice then cover in fondant. I just liked the hard shell the RI gave, it seemed more durable for transport to the contest.

You could also carve styrofoam. I personally just feel better about my carved cakes being cake.

Rice treats is another way to go.
When you bake up a cake like karateka said, way over bake it at low temp until it is hard/dry.

thanks for that, i would never have thought of using actual cake :/. it is for a shop window so probably wouldnt last a long time but even if i got 7-8 weeks before it started to deteriorate its a good excuse to change the display! i think baking it for a long time is a good idea too, i think i will give it a go.

I am in the UK and we do not have RKT here but aren't they just ricekrispies with melted marshmallow? i could give that a go also

right, i tried over baking a cake but then it was so hard i couldnt carve it to my desired shape, also i think i would prefere something that will last a longer time than actual cake. Does anyone know of anything i can use to make display cakes that can be carved? i am really stressing about this now as the shop are wanting the cakes :/

I do mine with the RKT as well. They are moldable, carveable, and they get very hard as well. Foam is good but to carve you would need softer foam to carve well and without too much mess and personally I don't like it as much because it takes longer to stiffen up. I guess because it's more porous it hangs on to any moisture?

Yes RKT are melted marshmallows and rice cereal. A 16oz bag of marshmallows melted with a Tb of butter and 8 cups of grated rice cereal is what I use HTH