Hi all!
I am making a pirate cake to auction off for a non-profit and would appreciate any advice. First, I am confused as to how I should cover the cake with fondant to look like wooden planks. It would look like the following:
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1195393

I read a thread by karensue that said to cut out little strips of fondant and attach them. Should I cover the entire cake in fondant before attaching little strips? Would that make it neater? And also, does anyone know how to make the cake shiny like this?

Also, I am making a rum cake. I was going to brush the layers with a rum-simple syrup mixture after baking. However, would this weaken the layers and make them more likely to fall apart?

Thank you for any help!

I made a pirate cake this summer for my nephew's 10th birthday it was a 3 level cake on the first level I made the ship I covered the whole ship with fondant and used a impression mat to make the cake look like boards then I airbrushed the ship brown I could have covered it with pieces of fondant shaped into boards but I had to travel with this cake (130 miles) and felt better using a large pice of fondant instead of piecing it th picture is in my photos

Molly

I would think strips would work just fine. As for the shiny look, just thin some piping gel and paint over the fondant.

I made a cake like this for my sons birthday. Here is the link.

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1097643.html

I just cut strips of brown fondant and used a knife to make the lines on them. Or you could use a impression matt.
Not sure what the shiny is, maybe piping gel?

Thank you everyone! It worked out great. I just cut strips out and applied the fondant directly to the buttercream. The only thing I know for the future is to not use rum cake for carving--too moist and fluffy! I'm attaching a picture of the finished cake.

it turned out great!! I didn't see the post before. I did the same thing as far as individual boards.. Great Job!