Cover A Cake Dummy? Do You Use Buttercream
Decorating By mnmmommy Updated 17 Sep 2006 , 6:29am by mnmmommy
I usually cover my dummies with saran wrap, then coat like I would any other cake (ie. Buttercream base). When you take the dummy apart, it is much easier clean-up with the saran wrap (just hold it over the garbage and peel away!).
I have put buttercream directly on the dummies as well, and when i'm finished, I just wash the dummies with soap and water and let them dry.
I haven't made any dummy cakes yet - do you use the actual icing that you normally use or is there a cheaper way to do it since you're going to throw it away anyway? If you do a fondant dummy as opposed to a BC dummy, will it last longer? Too bad there isn't a way to do it out of plaster of paris or something and make it look really nice, so it would last a long, long time (or do people do this, too)? So many questions, so little time !!
auntsushi,
Some people do use plaster of paris, and spackle to make their dummy cakes. I prefer to use my regular buttercream recipe (it's great for practice as well). Both the buttercream and fondant dummies hold up well if you take proper care of them!!! (ie. keeping them covered with a cloth/towel, out of sunlight). I have some dummies that are a year old and still look like I made them yesterday. I have also made dummies, disassembled them, and reused the bases to make new ones. (it's mainly what i do when i'm bored and don't have any orders to do... like tonight 
)
I have used both piping gel and corn syrup to attach fondant to dummies. If you use water, use it sparingly as too much water will make your fondant break down.
I have done dummies in fondant, royal and buttercream.
Fondant can fade over time, esepcially if it is in sunlight or floresent lights. Violet has also been known to turn a blue gray color.
Royal icing can yellow after a while (long periods of time) so if you make it white in a year it may not be. After it has dried it can be sanded for a super smooth finish.
Buttercream (such as a crusting recipe) will continue to harden, can be smoothed with the paper towel method and holds up pretty well.
I've even attempted to use spackle once. I didn't have a good experince with it. I mistakenly bought a brand that as a dry time indicator in it. It starts off pink and dries white, well actually it dried a gray white. If you buy the regular stuff I have heard you can color it with acrilic paints. Remember though if you use spackle you want to buy new 'tools' to use with it, since it is not a food safe product.
Thanks for everyone's replies. I did cover them with press and seal. I had tried regular suran wrap and I couldn't get it to stick. The press and seal worked great. I did put a thin layer of buttercream on because I tried just the fondant and you could see the wrinkles from the press and seal.
Thanks again for all of the great info.
The one that I made with my cake dummy is in my pictures, it's the pink and brown one.
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