Well there wont be any way you could get the results I got unless you have the solid shapes.
I have notice people just take the sintra and bend it here and there, but it just doesnt look like the real stuff.
Me personally I've strived to get my armor to look as real as possible, that is why I started to make my own stuff. I never realized I had the eye for sculpting. You just have to want it and go for it.
try to sculp, you'll never you what type of skills you have until you try