I remember in or around 2010 seeing promotional images for a 1:1 replica of Char Aznable’s helmet and mask, but I never thought I would be able to get my hands on such a piece. Thankfully, Megahouse delivered on their own, and it’s just about as cool to own it as I imagined it would be a decade ago.

The helmet is a heavy plastic with a satin off-white colour. It has no real seam-lines and is very smooth with a good weight and rigidity. The “horns” are thinner and, while secured on the helmet, I would not want to accidentally drop it – I think they would snap quite easily.

The mask is made of a rubber material with a felt liner and holds together with Velcro on the back, allowing you to adjust the size to your head. The lenses are some kind of bendable plastic with a one-way reflective film on the outside. I am a little disappointed on this element, honestly, as there seems to be a little residue on it from the adhesive and I am too worried about making it worse or causing a scratch to do anything other than wipe it with a microfiber cloth.

Additionally, the mask has no allowance for your ears, so they just get smooshed up against your head if you want to wear it. I can’t recall if it was like that for Char, but I think adding it to this version would have been a benefit.

There is also no air venting, so if you run hot in the head, you may not be able to wear the helmet for long!

Obviously, the helmet was made as a display piece and thankfully it comes with its own stand which had a groove for the mask to hang from to give off the intended look. It looks really good.

Also included in the box are a variety of foam pads you can stick inside the helmet so that it sits on your head snug and proper, should you choose to wear it. They reminded me of the pads on the inside of a bicycle helmet. Keeping the pads stuck on the helmet interior may affect how the helmet sits on its display stand, however, so I opt to leave them off mine.

If you’ve got the extra money and are a big Mobile Suit Gundam/Char Aznable fan, it certainly brings the room together.