I have used both styrofoam from Wal-Mart and sheets of polystyrene insulation from Lowes in the past to make dummies.
You can stack and decorate them as with a real cake, if you are covering it with fondant, all you need to do is dampen it with a wet paper towel or brush on some piping gel and cover as usual. I don't use dowels because it's so light, just some royal icing to stack, some people cover it first with contact paper or plastic wrap so ther can reuse.
If you're just wanting something to practice on, this is what I did when I first started out considering my imagination was larger than my bank account! 
I went to my local grocery store and purchased a complete cake container (lid and bottom) for a couple of dollars- sometimes they'll even GIVE you one according to who you run upon. They usually have 12", 10", 8" double and single (round) and various sheet cake sizes. I took it home and wrapped 2-3 layers of saran wrap tightly around them to help smooth out the grooving that they're sometimes made with.
Though it was not perfect like a cake dummy... I could practice till my heart was content AND became good at evening out not-so-perfectly round cakes!
Good Luck
I'm dumb, I just got your question,
http://members.nuvox.net/~zt.proicer/cakepict/CAKEHINTS.htm
Thanks!! I have been looking for ideas for charachter pans!!
If you're just wanting something to practice on, this is what I did when I first started out considering my imagination was larger than my bank account!
I went to my local grocery store and purchased a complete cake container (lid and bottom) for a couple of dollars- sometimes they'll even GIVE you one according to who you run upon. They usually have 12", 10", 8" double and single (round) and various sheet cake sizes. I took it home and wrapped 2-3 layers of saran wrap tightly around them to help smooth out the grooving that they're sometimes made with.
Though it was not perfect like a cake dummy... I could practice till my heart was content AND became good at evening out not-so-perfectly round cakes!
Good Luck
I meant to relay that they have these in the bakery dept! If you ask to speak with the cake decorator, she'll be able to help!
:0 Sorry ... good luck again!
Here is the idiot question of the day.... what exactly are you calling a "cake container"? Is it the box in which it comes from a deli? Most of the bakery boxes are so flimsy, (with plastic windows) that I do not think I could find stability in that! Would someone please tell me another term for "cake container"?
Here is the idiot question of the day.... what exactly are you calling a "cake container"? Is it the box in which it comes from a deli? Most of the bakery boxes are so flimsy, (with plastic windows) that I do not think I could find stability in that! Would someone please tell me another term for "cake container"?
Glad to explain exactly what I'm calling a 'cake container' ....
they 'cake container' DO come from the bakery/deli dept; however, it's not a cardboard box (which I wouldn't dream of using since the cardboard would obviously fall apart! 
) , it's a plastic container with plenty enough stability to use for practice. As a matter of fact, I've trained a couple of budding cake decorators on these.
For those who don't have the $80-$100 to run out and buy the real deal, this is a good start.
I have used both styrofoam from Wal-Mart and sheets of polystyrene insulation from Lowes in the past to make dummies.
And what do you do with these sheets of styrofoam/poly to make the cake dummy?
Anybody????
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