Cake assembly advice please

[SpaceTrain]

Hi, I am making a treasure chest cake -s imilar to this.

Any advice on how to position the top of the treasure chest so that it doesn't fall off? I was thinking of using toothpicks at the back, then resting most of it on the "treasure" but I'm not sure if that will suffice?

could you maybe cover a couple of toothpicks in shiny paper, or a couple of straws, pop them in the front of the cake so they support the weight at the front but still look like a part of the design?

Just a thought, is the lid on a cake board? Might be easier to support it if it is, that way there's no chance of it sagging in the middle.

& then leave a small strip down the back to stick toothpicks in & sit the rest on the treasure maybe

What about using a wooden lolly stick..like from a frozen ice cream lolly and put through the bottom and then the top cake at each of the sides for support. Then cover hte exposed part with silver or gold foil to look like a hinge.

I think with Treasure chest you add another bit of cake in between the top and bottom and then surround it with treasure. So it looks full of treasure but is really a solid bit of cake in the middle holding it up IYSWIM.

Thanks for all these ideas. I will add some extra cake in the middle and go for either lolly sticjs or toothpicks covered in foil to also prop it up.

Lucysmam - the lid isn't on a cakeboard. I might put it on some heavy duty cardboard though just to be safe! Thanks for the idea

I was just about to paste this link where someone suggests doing exactly that

Along with several other ideas. Think I might make one of these my project one week, see how I get on with it

oh, I can't log in cos I'm not a member.

You don't want to make it your project this week and make the cake for me do you?

oh, sorry, I thought it would take you there without having to be a member

I would do if you were anywhere near me, I'm not very good though (I don't think) compared to some you see! It'll be fab when it's finished, just remember to post pics so we can have a nosey

Can't you break up a Kit Kat and put a finger at either side? That way you have got something edible doing the job for you.

I'm a Nestle boycotter so no Kitkats for me I'm afraid. I can't use matchsticks either.
In fact, cake decoration is the only thing that becomes challenging with the Nestle boycott, as all sweets used to decorate cakes seem to be from the Nestle dungeon.

Lucysmam - depending on how it turns out, I might post pics. If its a disaster I won't though!

Twix fingers? (Mars)

Time Out/Twirl fingers (Cadbury)

oops - I mean matchmakers not matchsticks

you have to!! It couldn't be as bad (or embarrassing) as my noah's ark! No-one knew what any of my animals were meant to be & I spent ages making them

Is that the pic on your profile page? It looks fantastic!

Hmm...will think about putting a pic up. Am worried it will unmask my anonymity though

what about buying some moulds and making chocolate fingers/coins/shapes etc and colouring white chocolate?

I have some moulds but none that would be suitable and won't be able to get to the shops before I need to make the cake. But thanks for the suggestion. Hopefully between the cardboard, extra cake wedges and sticks it will all hold up!

It will! Have faith

Oh, and yep, that's my noah's ark. I nicked noah from the lo's toy she's obsessed with. No way I could model him out of icing, the animals took me long enough & even then some were bought ones

Or use Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers.

ooh yes, they'll work - thank you. WIll get some in and add them to my tactical toolkit!

Thanks for all your advice ladies. Cake was a success .
I achieved all the stuctural support by using lots of cocktail sticks and a build up of trimmed cake edges to keep the lid propped up.
I was all set to use some cardboard too, but I didn't need it.