I have a client who wants a cake similar to this one I found on this website:   http://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/2109441/shark-birthday-cake

My inital thought was to make a football cake and butt it up against a stacked round.  Then run horizontal dowels between the "football" and stacked round.

This cake will be done in all buttercream.  Thanks

How about using the Wondermold pan ( the one used for making the doll's dress) carve it down and then either butting up against another round cake or using half of a ball pan? Use buttercream to cement it all together, crumb coat, then final ice the cake with buttercream. That's how I'd go about it.

i would bake a half sheet and carve & stack from there same as baking 2 quarter sheets -- use the excess to build up the snout

My daughter , yes I have 3 year old cake nut, she just watched cake by choppas and they had  tutorial for a shark cake, maybe that could help you get inspiration for the cake. 

azeboi2005, -K8memphis and CatPoet, here's how the cake turned out:  http://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/3343072/shark-cake

I appreciate your advice.

well you rocked it -- I noticed that cake on the feed and wondered if that was you - well done (cue the Jaws music)

Looks amazing! Great job...if you don't mind me asking how did you end up getting your shape?

azeboi2005.  I used the Wondermold and put it on top of some stacked/torted rounds. Doweled the Wondermold to rounds. Both were cut to achieve the right look and size.  I baked 14" rounds so that I had enough cake to work with.  I did have alot of throw-away with the 14" rounds, but they ended up being the right size to get the depth the proper size.

You did a really nice job on it.  I'm sure your client was very happy :)

Looks fantastic!