I\'m self taught so I\'m still learning so far I\'ve worked out a way of texturing a model that I\'m comfortable with... it is slow going though and may not be the best way.
I use Unwrap UVW, select a few faces from a desired part of the model then go/click edit.
I right click on the selected coordinates in the new window that pops up (Edit UVWs Window).
A menu will appear and the detach option should be on it... select detach and then drag the coordinates off to the side and select from the top menu, mapping->normal mapping and click on the part of the list that best suits the selected faces.
(so for example is I select the top of a box, I would select something like Mapping->Normal Mapping->top/bottom mapping.)
Then place them where you like in the center area.
Use texporter (love this plugin) save off your map, create a material, bitmap using that saved map image. Apply this material to the model... you should see a multicoloured model at this stage

. Open the file in a paint program (I use photoshop) make a skin and save it off. Switch between the two apps to view your handiwork as you make it.
And by the end of it you should have a skinned model...
Anyway I\'m only self taught so like I said there are probably better ways (or at least faster).
Here is an example I am currently working on....
http://www.koali.com.au/stydracos/Harvester/Harvester.htmIts skinned using my dodgy process so you can get somewhere with it. I don\'t know any tutorials but I hope I managed to help. By the way the example is still in works and thats an older set of images, the dodgy legs have already been replaced, ( thanks to Manden for pointing that out!

).