My son is in Petroleum Engineering and he has informed me that he'd like an Oil Derrick for his b-day cake in July. That part I can figure out ... graduated square cakes, which I then carve on a slant. Ice it white and then do the framing in silverish fondant.



Then, being the engineer that he is ... he thinks it needs to be a "gusher". He says he can rig it up for me with a tube down the centre (instead of a dowel) connected to a small tube running out from under the 'derrick' at the back, which would then be attached to a small hand pump. When pumped, liquid chocolate would come out the top to represent the oil.

Sounds a little tricky to me, but it would be awfully cool if I can pull it off. Awfully messy if I can't.

So, I'll take any and all suggestions. I am not sure about the liquid chocolate - thinned chocolate pudding?

Kids.

liquid chocolate --

aka hershey's or nestles' chocolate SYRUP!!

(hershey's special dark syrup!!!!! -- yum!)

----

his idea will work...

and who cares about the mess??

it's chocolate!

(so there won't be any mess -- it'll all be eaten!)

Yum!!

Or use an electric small fountain pump instead of a hand pump. I did this on a volcano.

Please post pics.

this is a to scale drawing of the size pans you are planning to use with the derrick shape superimposed.

WOW - perfect Doug. Thanks. That's just how I envisioned it, but it's wonderful to actually 'see' it!