I am planning to make the "bathtub" cake with my brother in the tub. I have no idea how to mold the fondant into a man (from the waist up). My brother is pretty heavy and bald, so it should not be too tough to make! I need a starting place.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!!

PinkPreppy

I'm curious as well so I will give you a BUMP!

Try http://www.sculpey.com/projects_figures.htm
There are lots of instructions there.
The Little Angel could easily become a heavyset bald man, and Uncle Sam just needs a change of color.
Good Luck!

Hey -
if you check out my photos, I did a guy from the waist up in an airplane. Believe it or not - it was soooo simple to do! For a "naked" guy, you can color some fondant flesh colored and do the body. For fun, you might want to take a nontoxic marker (like Crayolas or sharpies - they're all labled non toxic) and just draw some curly hairs. When I did the head, I attached it on a toothpick to make sure it would stay. But I'm not sure about the face, since mine had sunglasses to I didn't have to worry about eyes. I think it would be easy tho - take tiny balls of white and flatten them, then flatten smaller, eye colored balls on top of the white so there's white showing above the eye color, and attach them to the head with water. For the nose, I would just attach a little ball of fondant - maybe you can flatten it slightly. For the mouth, I would make it look like he was singing in the bathtub and make it open and round. I'd make some big old ears (you said it was your brother right? so you can have some fun with it!), but the hair might be the trickiest part to do, if he has any! Ha ha.
For the arms - I couldn't figure out how to get them to stay up, so they just laid down. You might want to make a little bath brush so it looks like he's cleaning his bag, and if you attach the arm and have it bending back and "holding" the bath brush. And if the bath brush is resting on the "water" (you can use piping gel or brush on some corn syrup - I haven't tried the corn syrup but I've read that people use it to make things shiny), then you won't have to worry about holding up the arm, since it will be supported by the brush. I hope that makes sense!

I have to run - I'm at work - but hopefully some of that is helpful!

Have you seen the Mystery Cake challenge on Food Network? One of athe contestants (sorry, I forgot his name) used melted chocolate with corn syrup to make the body and head and it held up unbelievably. I am going to try this out, but it looks sturdier than fondant or gumpaste.
Vicky

Thank you for responding so quickly!! I have to make this cake tomorrow. I'll give it a try and post if I am able to make the heavy, bald guy in the tub!!!!

Thank you again, I love CAKECENTRAL!!!!!!!!

Enjoy the weekend!

PinkPreppy

If you need his arms to stay up put a piece of thin spaghetti inside of them. HTH

Hey, Vicky, you are speaking of the matador cake, right? That was Mike McCarey, and he was actually talking about chocolate clay.
You can use the colored candy compound with corn syrup and sculpt it the same way you do chocolate clay. Depending on the brand, you may have to use less corn syrup, or it will get too wet to use.
I use Merckens to make my colored chocolate clay, or assorted colored Tootsie Rolls (see the burger cake in my photos), depending upon how much I need.

Theresa

Yes Theresa I was.. Wasn't it amazing??? I have never seen a sculpture from food that realistic.
Vicky

It's funny that I came across your post. I am also starting a bathtub cake for my twin niece's 3rd birthday party on Sunday. I am a super-virgin when it comes to cake making. I am reading all this stuff, and thinking, what am I getting myself into. I was going to put them in the tub also....I have no Idea....do I use fondant, or do I prefer gum paste? What is the difference anyway? I think it is that gum paste gets harder?? Anyway....hopefully many many people will post very helpful information for you in the next hour, and I will reap the rewards right along with you. Can't wait to see your pics!
sarah

Thanks to everyone for all of your help. Here is the cake, I also posted in the gallery under birthday cakes.

I had soooo much trouble with "the man". I attached the parts with spagetti!

I guess I'll try anything once, and this is it!

Thank you again!

You did a great job! I think it is adorable

Amber

Looks really good!

Great job!!! Very Very nice. When reading this and when you said heavy set I kinda wonder if you can reshape a small 3d teddy bear mold cake. Like cut the ears and such. An idea for latter

Now that's funny AlicaSue! I did try to make the "back" brush, but it did not work out! I never noticed the "bag" brush! maybe the brush sank to the bottom!

Thanks for all of your comments and tips!

ENJOY the weekend!