At a total loss regarding what's real or fake. Moving on to Japanese M38 carbine.

I believe the head is painted cloth? Just google WW2 soft body army doll. Here are some examples.   A variation of the famous parachute trooper with the manufacturers box. The second photo shows a group of WW2 dolls all made by a company called Vogue including a boxed parachute trooper. These soft body dolls were for a cheaper market as many companies made soft body dolls with composition heads, hands or feet that cost more. Then some had removable clothes that cost even more. You can see all the varieties on line.

My guess is it is a handmade doll. The head was probably the only part mass produced and sold at the 5&10. 

Do you know who made them/this one? I’d like to know more about it but I can’t find any close examples.

I did the same once before.  Much rather learning prior to buying! Thx tituss. I figured that out when I ran across 'rebuild kits'. Makes it hard to know what's fake & what's not I'm thinking the attached has either been refurbished or is fake  Does anyone have a reference to any book or article which I can educate myself? 

I’ve been where you are and make mistakes all the time. I tend to shoot first and figure it out later.    That said I’m glad to help 

The star proves nothing, you can put a star on a civil defense helmet to make it a fake.

Thanks Preppy. Obviously I have some research to do 

There are a variety of these cloth military dolls made during WW2. Probably the most known is the paratrooper doll.

Correct. Notice how much shallower the dome is and how wider the brim is.

Thank you tituss. You saved me from making a big mistake.  Will I be safe focusing on helmets which have the star on them?

This helmet is not a type 90 but a civilian helmet