I'm going to make a cake similar to this one in a few weeks, and was wondering the best way to make "wood" panels. I know they are individually cut and placed around the iced cake. I'm assuming that they have to dry a bit before placing on the cake? Since it's a round cake, should they be sort of pliable to go on the contour?
How exactly would be the best way to do these? I've pm'ed the creator, but haven't got a response.
Thanks!

Here's the awesome cake:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1501139.html

I have coverd a cake with panels before, but they were for a box and were flat panels. I did let them dry for about a day before cutting them and applying them to the cake. If I was making a cake similar to the one in the picture, I think I would cut the panel/slat and dry it on the side of a cake dummy that is the same size as the cake you are making. That should give them the shape they will need to fit nicely around the cake.

I have done a cake with panels as well but on a square cake. I placed my panels in the freezer for a bit to stiffen them up and then placed them on the cake. I also saw this technique on one of the many cake shows that are on. HTH

I have done two cakes similar to that (round barrels). I figured a rough circumference of my cake. They were both 8 inch cakes so I figured about 9ish with icing. So the circumference would be about 28 inches (pi x diameter). I figured how wide I wanted the panels to be (about 2.5 inches or so as I recall) and and divided the circumference by that number to figure out how many panels I needed. I rolled mine fairly thick so they wouldn't dry too quickly and would still be slightly pliable. I let them dry for a day or so but a few hours would be sufficient. You just don't want them to stretch out or anything when you go to put them on the cake. I didn't do the marbeling as in your example but just used chocolate fondant and made wood marks on it with a tool and then brushed a darker brown over it to give it dimension. Oh and I attached them by brushing piping gel on the backs as the buttercream had already crusted. If you have any questions just pm me. HTH!
Here are the links to my two barrel cakes:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1591100
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1526812

Thanks for all your help! Confections, your cakes are so great!

I finished my cake with the panels. I overestimated the diameter by about an inch, so I had to remove a little from 2 panels in the back.
Thanks for your help!

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1668003.html

It turned out great! Nice job.