3d robot rigging advice (max)

talk design
1

I am planning to follow this tutorial to make marvin the depressed robot.

http://67.15.36.49/team/Tutorials/making_marvin/marvin_01.asp

Although I am unsure with regards to the rigid/flexy contrast for animating.

Is it as simple as attaching the rigid bits directly to a biped. Then applying a skin to the flexy bits?

I always have difficulty with shoulder joints.:panda:

Thanks ///