I work with exocits on a regular, the armor plates can be removed tho it will leave holes. It is possible tho the time it would take would not be worth the effort. If you want smooth alligator/croc/camin I would recommend using the belly of them.
if you just want to try you will have to cut around each armor plate & skin the hide. Much like skinning a deer or cow ect. for processing. Then you would have to lay the piece back flat & glue into place from the opposite side.
If you are going to use the tail, that task is near impossible as you can not lay the raised tail section flat. No place to lay them.