yessss use those tuts, they rock my world!!! they really are good. and NEVER forget the benefit of good referance pictures. they help a LOT. if you cant find any, then draw some. also, before you model something, try and think from all perspectives, and how the model would look when modeled purely from primatives (cylinder arms, box head, cylander body and legs etc.)
so yeah, advice given!! dont turn to the dark side! model origionally and never edit!!!