Hiya,

I was wondering if anyone can help me, Im pretty new to cake making/decorating but my friend would like me to do a shaped cake for her little boys birthday in November, she wants a Thomas the Tank Engine cake, can you give me any tips on the best way to shape a cake, I have got a book but its not the easiest of instructions and I was just wondering if theres anything I can do to make things easier for me. Im gonna have a practice but any help would really be appreciated.

Paula

I don't know if you have access to wilton pans where you are, but I immediately thought of this: http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E314228-475A-BAC0-538F1B1920A395A6&fid=3E32E691-475A-BAC0-5C9F898E02AF9FCF

For any 3D cake you want to use a denser/firmer cake, even a pound cake, because this will make the cake hold together and any carving a lot easier. Crumb coating cut parts is important, or all those cake bits will end up in your final coat of icing for sure. (which is why fondant on carved cakes is always a plus!)