NOTE TO GENE FANS: Delenn is a character from the epic science fiction series "Babylon 5". She represents the Minbari Federation in the interstellar alliance, and is a heroine to the whole galaxy, defending good against evil with fortitude and grace. Like other Minbari, she has a bone crest beginning at her temples and surrounding the back of her head, like a crown. Unlike other Minbari, Delenn has undergone a dangerous metamorphosis that resulted in her becoming a half-Minbari/half-human hybrid.
NOTE TO BABYLON 5 FANS: Gene Marshall is a 15 1/2 inch vinyl doll manufactured by Ashton Drake Galleries. Gene is a stylized representation of a ficticious Hollywood actress of the 1940s. Since Gene's introduction in 1995, it has become very popular among Gene fans to remove their original face paint and repaint them with unique faces. An entire vitrual society of Gene collectors and repainters exists online. EBay is a focal point of the Gene world, allowing collectors to share and swap their repainted, customized dolls. Gene typically retails for about $90. After repainting, Gene prices range from around $125-$500 and beyond.
Usually, doing a Gene doll repaint involves removing her original makeup, painting a new face with acrylics, and sealing with an acrylic varnish. For Delenn, an extra step had to be taken in order to give her a permanent Minbari bone crest. First I removed her makeup and trimmed her hair to give her bangs. Then I formed the bone crest directly over her hair using Sculpy modeling compound. Next I baked her in the oven to set the Sculpy. Baking a Gene doll is a nerve-wracking process, I can tell you. I felt like I was waiting for Delenn to come out of her cocoon, as in the B5 episode "Chrysalis". Fortunately, with the aid of carefully placed heavy-duty aluminum foil, she survived unscathed. The hair under her crest was then reinforced with glue, and I can safely say that her bone is not going anywhere. The bone is firmly attached at her temples and all the way around the back of her vinyl head. Finally, I painted both her crest and face, and sealed her face with acrylic varnish. The hair in front and behind her bony crest is completely silky and brushable, as it was before she was baked.
Below is a photo of the orignal Gene Marshall doll before she metamorphed into Delenn:
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In these photos, Delenn wears her ambassadorial robes from Babylon 5. The costume was made from rich, violet suede-like fabric, trimmed in silver braid. The overdress is a slightly iridescent red-violet/violet fabric, with silver thread stitching to trim the edges. Tailored sleeves in the same fabric as the overdress peek out of the wider sleeves of the suede robe. A silver beltbuckle accents the belt in front. Hidden snaps close the front of the robe. (The photos above were taken before the snaps were added). |
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