Modeling Suggestions?

[Khulu]

So, I want my marines to have a sort of tribal feel to them.  So, I was thinking about how to visually represent that on the models.  I know DA have some random feather plumage on some models, are there any other good examples?  I have some old hand-me-down chaos models, I might chop some up for the horns and tusks and such.  But if there are models out there with teeth/bones, maybe some beads, feathers, maybe sticks and such on armor or weapons, please let me know!  Right now I have just been flipping through pages of the GW site to try to look at pictures and see if anything sticks out.

[Bryan Blaire]

The Space Wolves bits are adorned with quite a few talisman/shamanic/"tribal" totem type pieces/knick-knacks. For a more Amazonian Native-esque feel to them, you could look at the Lizardfolk stuff for Fantasy/AoS and snag feathers and other small totemic stuff from them.

[Khulu]

I can't believe I never thought of looking at fantasy models!

[Major_Gilbear]

Well, in 30k/40k great swathes of human worlds have reverted to a primitive techno-barbarism, and this has long been represented in the original Legions. On the one hand, you had the Roman/Classical-themed Legions, and on the other the more savage barbarian-themed Legions. Using these as examples briefly:

Space Wolves

Space Vikings in space with a strong wolfy-mcwolf-wolfiness in space theme. Lots of runes, small wolf skulls, wolf motifs, Princess-cut gems set on angle, wolf tails, wolf teeth/claws, wolf pelts, and small rune-carved stone pendants. Also, lots of mohawks, plaits, and long shaggy beards.

White Scars

Sci-fi troopers with a Mongol theme, I expect these to become Space Mongols with a Space Marine theme before too long. Similar to the Space Wolves, you have ritual scarification, Mongolian script, fur pelts, long fu-manchu moustaches, various claws/teeth, Princess-cut gems set on angle, and various little charm pendants. Colour-wise, they also make use of lots of jagged patterns on their armour.

World Eaters

Whilst arguably they have more of a Gladiatorial theme, a lot of classical Gladiators had barbarian themes. So the WE have chains, studs/spikes, heavy imposing-looking armour and helmets, chain axes (which are clearly more barbaric than the marginally more elegant chainswords), bare arms/heads, bloody handprints on their armour, skulls totems, and frequently use very esoteric-looking melee weapons for a good bout of Rip'nTear.

Sons of Horus

Much like the WE above, these feature lots of spikes, fur pelts, chains, barbed hooks, skull totems, topknots, Cthonian Eye motifs, mirror coins, gang glyphs, and distinctive scallop-bladed power axes.

Night Lords

Less barbarian in culture, but very barbarian in appearance, the NL have plenty going on in terms of barbarian-themed accoutrements: flaying knives, shrunken heads, skulls, bones, (un)tanned hides, imposing skull-faced bat-winged helmets, barbed blades, and trophy racks.

Alpha Legion

Fairly Polynesian-themed, with lots of tribal tattoos, oceanic/sea monster-themed motifs, scaled cloaks and armour decoration, webbed helmet crests, ritually-shaved heads and clean-shaven faces, and probably body piercings (though as most AL seem to be helmeted, this is hard to confirm!). Barb-bladed weapons and weapons like tridents, spears, and sabres seem to be pretty popular.

Salamanders

Surprisingly tribal in appearance, with lots of lizard and scaled pelts, scaled armour designs, lizard icons and embellishments, Salamander claws/teeth, chainmail. Although not explicitly shown in any artwork or on the models (because there are actually few of either, and fewer still that are unhelmeted), I have always assumed that modest personal adornments like an earring or a necklace would not be uncommon - they are unparalleled smiths and artisans afterall. I am also surprised that we don't see more cut gems on their armour, as this is an obvious nod towards both their craftsmanship and the volcanic nature of their homeworld.

Raven Guard

Although the RG don't really go in for a lot of embellishment or adornment, they nonetheless seem to have various tribal/Native American themes - feathers, raven skulls, and bird-claw weapons like curved lightning claws. Some of the FW models also appear to have geometric patterns on them too.

Dark Angels

In 40k lore, they used to recruit from a particular Feral World that whose culture was strongly Native American-themed. In saving the world against the odds from a Genestealer infestation, the rest of the Deathwing painted their armour in bone-white and adopted the use of feathers to indicate Deathwing membership in honour of their brothers who fought and died to acheive the impossible. Other hints include nothing that Azrael is a man of particularly imposing stature who was recruited from the Feral World of Kimmeria; this is of course a reference to Cimmeria, the homeland of a very famous fictional barbarian. In GW creative terms, I was never sure if the feather motifs on the models came before or after Bill King's Deathwing story, or if Bill was partly inspired by Jes Goodwin's model sculpts. I suspect the latter (especially as Jes had probably conceived and sketched them years before in his usual manner!), but outside GW who knows for sure? Other hints to the original Caliban culture shown on DA models are Polish Hussar-style wings and the Templar Knight-style robes and broadswords.

So lots of precedent and ideas already baked-in for you! Good model kits to look at for parts to plunder are (in no particular order):

WHFB Chaos Marauders, Marauder horsemen, and Khorne Blood Reavers (snap-fit versions too). Lots of bare arms, axes, flails, maces, savage-looking heads, hide-bound round shields, topknots, and barbed knives. Good source of gladiatorial-looking weapons too. The Glottkin and other End-Times Chaos kits are worth a plunder too, as there are plenty of great-looking blades, spikes, trophies, chains, etc. on them.

WHFB Beastmen. Lots of axes, cleavers, torsos, horns, bones, skulls, and rough wooden shields. The Ungor torsos and arms especially are surprisingly human-looking when trimmed, and are not too puffy-muscled either.

WHFB Ogres (...whatever they're called now!). The Thundertusk/Stonehorn kit has lots of spears, meat/bones on hooks, a bird of prey, flaying knives, etc. Also some suitable savage-looking gut plates and standard tops that make for great shields or vehicle adornments.

WHFB Dark Elves & High Elves (...whatever they're called now!). Most of the Dark Elf kits have lots of great swords, barbed spears/lances, lots of scaled cloaks, spiky blade parts, and even several dragon/hydra/octopus-themed standard tops, shields and helmets. The Cold One lizards are popular mount counts-as alternatives for Scout Bikers too. A good selection of topknots too! Quite a few of the High Elf kits are worth a look too: the Dragon, the Dragon Princes, and the General/Prince all have lots of dragon-themed equipment and helmets. The Lothern Skycutter (and to some extent the Seaguard) has lots of tridents, spears, sea-creature and bird details. The Chariot and White Lions have lots of lion pelts and furry bits, and finally the Ellyrian Reavers have plenty of nice feathered details.

WHFB Lizardmen kits are all very Meso-American, and are a great source of hide-covered shields, horns, tusks, stone weapons, chunky gold/bronze/stone jewellery and pendants, small lizards, etc. Also good for stone/bronze/gold plaques and for various dinosaur-themed parts.

WHFB Skaven can also be a good source of parts, although probably more suited for Chaos/Nurgle. Still, lots of nasty-looking blades, cleavers, spears, spikes, rats, rotten timbers, bells, censers, and tattered banners.

WHFB Undead have (had, if you can find the Tomb Kings anywhere) lots of skulls/bones/skeletons (duh!). The VC stuff often has batwing-themed items too, and the TK stuff plenty of Egyptian-themed items. Plus lots of swords, cleavers, spears, bardiches, glaives, axes, etc. Zombies are a reasonable source of fresher-looking grisly trophies too. I really like the VC Skelly shields too, and the Black Knights have some good batwing-looking shields.

WHFB Empire - in particular the Greatswords, the General kit, and the Flagellants. Lots of chains, parchments, huge swords, maces, flails, wild-looking heads, bearded/veteran heads, banners, books, keys, hourglasses, archaeotech pistols, etc. Really worth a closer look because there is honestly far too much to mention here!

WHFB Orks. A bit of a stretch perhaps, but they do have brutal-looking swords, maces, and cleavers, some reasonable shields, and some great standard tops with big skulls and horns. Oh, and more topknots!

Finally, back to 40k, the Kroot kit is filled with absolutely loads of great parts; flaying knives, hooks, meat pieces, bones, flayed hide/rough leather, armour scraps, blades, spikes, archaic-looking rifles and pistols, spherical grenades, techno-whotsits, etc.

40k Ork kits are often interesting too - the ultimate expression of techno-barbarism in 40k, models like the bikers and Kans/Dreads often have lots of motor parts, saw blades, hooks, blades, spikes, horns, claws, skulls, trophies, etc. that are worth a look. Often more post-apoc barbarian details like maces made of vehicle axles or chain-wrapped clubs can be found in these kits.

I haven't mentioned more obvious 40k kits like Space Wolves and Chaos because I assume you are already familiar with them!

//Edit: more stuff added!//