How to Make a 3D Tank Cake

Posted by Mike_Elder

A really simple little sherman tank cake.  Only takes about 45 minutes to make and is really cute.  My nephew loved it and even the turret turns a little. This is a pretty simple, straight forward little cake.  I started with 2 tall 1/2 sheets and a single 5" round. I begin by stacking the 2 half sheets as usual and trim them down a little to the correct shape.  Its a pretty simple shape.  wider at the tracks and of course tapered at the front and sloping to the rear. I find it best to google some reference images before I begin and use them to determine the shape.  It's totally ok to simplify a little as this is a little boys cake! Then I mix a little brown green and yellow to get the "Olive drab" color in fondant, and cover the cake.



After it is covered I pinch the fondant where the fender would be to create a lip.  all of the other details I "push into shape with my fingers.  This is a fairly simple tank so there are no sharp details



Here is the finished detail of the fender and the main hull of the tank is complete.

The 5" round is shaped by removing 2 small moon shapes from the rear and beveling the top.  Then I ice it and cover it with the same OD green fondant.





I add all the little armor plates and hatches and misc, to the main hull and cut the hole where my turret support will go.

To support the turret, I hot glue a single support to tha cardboard circle and sink it in the cake. Then I place the turret in place.



It's now time to finish those tracks.  I cut the track wheels out of fondant and notch them with a square cutter.  Then I add all the support wheels and such also out of fondant.





Add the mantlet (piece on the front of the turret) and cannon, and a few hatches to the turret and your nearly done.



For the tracks themselves I simply roll out a long tube of black fondant then cut long strips with a ruffled edge.  Then I attache them to the sides of the tank using a damp paint brush.





Add some buttercream to the board and start airbrushing!!  I only airbrush just enough to add small details and help to bring it to life.  Too much airbrushing and it just looks muddy!





This technique could easily be adapted to any vehicle with similar design. i.e. bulldozers, armored vehicles, construction machines.