I need to make an eagle to sit on the headstone of a "Here lies___ youth" cake....any suggestions? I'm thinking of using RKT for the headstone....after coving it with fondant, how would I attach it at the end of the cake? dowels, toothpicks or something else?

Thanks.

You could make an eagle like the one on this cake.
Just make a full body, and attach skewers (or toothpicks depending on it's size) to the back using either RI or melted chocolate, then stick them into the tombstone. I would pipe feet on top of the tombstone the very last thing.
HTH!

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1729378.html

edited to correct stupid spelling errors

I never thought of looking at 4th of July cakes...that one looks pretty good...although my DH says I neglected to say the eagle needs to perch on the top of the headstone, more like a vulture, but an eagle (inside joke)....I mentioned that i could pipe talons....

Anyway, thanks @iamcakin, that's definitely a good idea.

interesting choice of bird for tombstone sitting.

I guess I was expecting a vulture ala:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_181513.html

Definitely more along the lines I think of what I had in mind...

Normally you'd think vulture for a tombstone, but the eagle has personal significance for the birthday girl turning 40 for whom I am making the cake.

I guess I have to figure out how to do something like this... http://mri.usd.edu/watertrail/FieldGuide/images/Birds/Bald_Eagle_lg2.jpg
but maybe in fondant/gumpaste?

Just found out it's not your standard eagle but Sam the Eagle, the muppet. I've got some pics of what to do...I'll post when he's finished. Thanks all.

Okay, I have to admit, that I have to concede failure for this one. I just don't have enough experience to do this kind of figure moulding. I've got photos of what he looks like from The Muppet Show, but putting that into gumpaste, just isn't happening for this cake. Thankfully, it isn't integral to the design, but was just an inside joke.

Okay, I have to admit, that I have to concede failure for this one. I just don't have enough experience to do this kind of figure moulding. I've got photos of what he looks like from The Muppet Show, but putting that into gumpaste, just isn't happening for this cake. Thankfully, it isn't integral to the design, but was just an inside joke.