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Sorry if this is a newbie question but, well, I'm still new at this. I know that when you're modeling your army you want to follow the WYSIWYG rules and put any weapons, biomorphs, etc on the model. I also know there are some exceptions that are called out (for hard-wired stuff on Tau, etc).

But, there is a question that seem to always come up that I can never find a decent resource for:

Does a given bit actually exist?

For example, in the Tyranid codex, there's a Reinforced Chitin and Toxic Miasm biomorph. It doesn't appear that there's a bit that officially represents those traits; I tracked down some green-stuff conversions for them, but I can't find a definitive source for whether or not something needs to be on the model or not, and if a bit exists for it.

Also, assuming I believe a bit exists, it's not clear how to know what it looks like. I'll use the Tyranid "Tusked" biomorph as an example. On page 46 of the Codex, it's clear you can take "Tusked" without caveats (as well as things like Enhanced Senses, Acid Maws, etc). One page 56 it shows a "Tusked Carnifex with adrenal sac, barbed strangler, mace tail, and scything talons." On the opposite page (57) "a monstrous, tusked Carnifex roars in triumph...".

The first has a tusk/blade on the top of a standard head. The second picture has the Carnifex with a "tusked" head - with two huge tusks coming out of the lower jaw.

Assuming the book and the picture descriptions are accurate, then there are two different bits to represent the "tusked" feature (and they look dramatically different). But what about features like "Regenerate" or "Enhanced senses. . ." If I don't take that version of the head, but want to pay the points to get them, is there a bit floating around that represents them and, if so, what's it look like?

So, any thoughts on where to go to figure that sort of thing out? Or am I missing a manual somewhere?

For biomorphs, there's a guide here: http://uk.games-workshop.com/tyranids/knowyourfoe/1/

WYSIWYG has limits, and 99.9% of gamers won't give a monkeys if something is ever so slightly out, as long as you explain what the model has before the game, and don't deliberately try to confuse people with modeling.

For biomorphs, there's a guide here: http://uk.games-workshop.com/tyranids/knowyourfoe/1/

That's actually where I found some of my information, but even that doesn't seem completely accurate in terms of the rules. For example, they only use the various "head" pieces for things like Tusks, but the rule book shows two different versions of a tusked Carnifex (on pages 56 and 57).

While I expect that most players will be forgiving if you're up front about point costs and what abilities you're taking, I'm just trying to figure out if I was missing something in terms of resources. For example, if I want to create a Carnifex with Tusks and Acid Maws, it would be nice to know if I need to basically convert the two different head pieces, or if there's some other bit hanging around that complements one of the heads. In that particular case, page 56 seems to allow for the blade bit to count as a tusk, but in other cases (Acid Maws + Enhanced senses), it's not clear.

Nothing has to be the official bit. If you put something pointy and obvious facing forward somewhere on a carnifex, you can call it a tusk, even if it's nowhere near the things head. I'm in the process of sculpting and casting some small, not ugly as all get out adrenal glands, since I hate the GW ones. I just will point them out to my opponent before the game and say "this is an adrenal gland."

WYSIWYG is a rule, but there is also the "Counts As" rule. As long as it's represented somehow, preferably not in the fashion of Dali, you're good.