i remember doing a few scorpid then heavy scorpid recipes to get me to nightscape and wicked. after that you should be able to keep going on the wicked gear.
you mentioned you have recipes that give you skill ups, just that it's hard to get the scorpid scales. depending on your level, the scorpids you fight may not drop scales as often. from about 47 on, the scorpids in south tanaris, blasted lands, and burning steppes drop the scales fairly often..at least to where it will seem as if you're not just killing tons for a little return.
the best thing about the blasted lands and burning steppes is, though, that sometimes people are already killing the scorpids. if that's the case, just skin away.