Maya 6 - where to go next

[Stranger]

Ive been watching these tutorials on how to do stuff (split polys, extrude etc... detailing stuff) but the way they show you is just by having a box and doing the stuff to that. When i try to model something off a blueprint i can get the basic outline now but i have trouble putting 2 and 2 together from what i learned on the vids.

While trying to add the detail is it best to split the polys myself and not have many subdivions are is it a mix of the two? And once i model the clip for instance (im doing a gun) and start the part where the clip connects, is it best to extrude part of the clip and add to it that way, or start a brand new poly and then connect them? Can somebody please help or point me to a tutorial that will help me put it all together and understand how the basics of the process?

Thanks