Tutorial Preview
Bite Sized
Watch Paul make his helicopter cake in just one minute!
Highlights
Some carefully picked clips from the full tutorial made into one 12 minute video.
1. Explaining the design
Paul goes over the method to the madness behind creating a template for the design. In this lesson you will learn how to scale up a design template to the correct proportions for your cake.
2. Building the internal structure
Now that the template is ready, Paul shows you how to bring the template design to life by building a solid internal structure to keep your helicopter cake in place!
3. Making it food safe
In this lesson, Paul shows you how to make the internal structure food safe – a very important part that should not be missed especially when selling your cakes.
4. Carving the cake
In this lesson, Paul shows you how to add the cake to the structure then how to carve it into the shape of your helicopter using picture examples of real life helicopters.
5. Carving part 2
Now we begin to carve some of the more finer details.
6. Ganaching
Now it’s time to cover the cake in ganache, Paul shows you how to apply the ganache to get a nice smooth finish.
7. Covering the cake
In this lesson, Paul shows you how to cover all the nooks and crannies of the cake for a smooth finish with nice sharp edges.
8. Marking the details
It’s time to start outlining all the features of the helicopter such as the nuts, bolts and windows!
9. Making the wings
Paul uses a very simple method to create the wings using card and sugarpaste/fondant.
10. Adding the wings
Now that the wings have been made, it’s time to cut out and the the little rocket parts before attaching them to the cake.
11. Finishing the wings
Paul finishes off the wings with some more sugarpaste/fondant features.
12. Adding more detail
In this lesson you will learn how to make more shapes and features from sugarpaste to add to the helicopter.
13. Airbrushing
In this lesson, Paul teaches you how to use an airbrush to create a beautiful green two-toned effect.
14. Creating the propeller
In this lesson, Paul shows you how to make an amazing DIY propeller.
15. Making the motor
Now the tricky bit, so remember patience is key! Paul shows you how to wire up your battery to the fan. Check the tools and ingredients list for a link to buy the parts needed.
16. Lesson 16 Making the wheels
Paul shows you how to make great little quick and effective wheels!
17. Icing the board
Paul shows you how to cover and blend the board with a smooth finish.
18. Repairing the wheels
Oops! Looks like our helicopter is in need of some repairs!
19. Finishing touches
Paul adds some more finishing touches to bring the helicopter to life and we find out if the propeller will work or not!
20. Other Ideas
Paul shares some other ideas for you to use on your own cakes.
21. PRO Lesson
In this lesson, Paul gives you some insider info on pricing and selling a magnificent cake like this.
Army Helicopter Cake Tutorial
In this Army helicopter cake tutorial, multi-award winning Paul Bradford shows you how to make this magnificent helicopter cake complete with a battery operated propeller! You don’t want to miss this one!
In the following tutorial, you will learn how to…
- Build a gravity defying structure
- Carving a cake to a template
- Installing an internal electric motor
- Airbrushing
- and much, much more!
History of the Army Helicopter
The history of the army helicopter began during the early twentieth century as engineers experimented with aircraft that could take off and land vertically. Early designs were unreliable, but progress accelerated during the years surrounding the World War II. One of the first practical military helicopters was the Sikorsky R-4, developed by aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky. Introduced in 1942, the aircraft proved that helicopters could perform tasks that fixed-wing aircraft could not, such as rescuing injured soldiers from difficult terrain.
After the war, helicopters became increasingly important to armies around the world. Their ability to hover, manoeuvre in tight spaces, and land almost anywhere made them valuable for transport, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation. During the Korean War, helicopters were widely used to evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield, dramatically improving survival rates. This role expanded further during the Vietnam War, where helicopters became central to military strategy.
One of the most famous models from this period was the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, often called the Huey. It transported troops, delivered supplies, and supported combat operations. By the late twentieth century, specialised attack helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache were developed, combining heavy firepower with advanced targeting systems.
Today, army helicopters remain essential tools for modern militaries, supporting missions ranging from combat and reconnaissance to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. 🚁
Don’t forget to share your interpretations of this wonderful cake with Paul and the rest of the CakeFlix Family on our Facebook group.
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