Just checked, they are stored in .shipcfg files which can be opened by notepad.  It looks like the game then builds the ships from the data in the files

ex S0_Avatar.shipcfg contains:

[HULL]
Version=26
BASE_HULL=S0_Large_1.x
Dummy07=S99_Structure156.x
Dummy07_Scale=0.875000
Dummy07_Yaw=-1.570796
Dummy07_Pitch=0.000000
Dummy07_Roll=-1.221730
Dummy07_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy07_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy07_Component=Structure156
Dummy07|Dummy01=S0_Structure22.x
Dummy07|Dummy01_Scale=0.850000
Dummy07|Dummy01_Yaw=0.000000
Dummy07|Dummy01_Pitch=0.349065
Dummy07|Dummy01_Roll=0.000000
Dummy07|Dummy01_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy07|Dummy01_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy07|Dummy01_Component=Structure22
Dummy11=S0_Support0.x
Dummy11_Scale=0.925000
Dummy11_Yaw=-4.712380
Dummy11_Pitch=0.000000
Dummy11_Roll=0.000000
Dummy11_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy11_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy11_Component=GeneralSupport
Dummy177=S0_Structure311.x
Dummy177_Scale=0.300000
Dummy177_Yaw=0.000000
Dummy177_Pitch=0.174533
Dummy177_Roll=-3.141589
Dummy177_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy177_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy177_Component=Structure311
Dummy177|Dummy02=S0_Structure307.x
Dummy177|Dummy02_Scale=0.575000
Dummy177|Dummy02_Yaw=-0.174533
Dummy177|Dummy02_Pitch=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy02_Roll=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy02_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy02_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy02_Component=Structure307
Dummy177|Dummy03=S0_Structure307.x
Dummy177|Dummy03_Scale=0.575000
Dummy177|Dummy03_Yaw=0.174533
Dummy177|Dummy03_Pitch=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy03_Roll=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy03_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy03_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy177|Dummy03_Component=Structure307
Dummy18=S0_Structure307.x
Dummy18_Scale=0.575000
Dummy18_Yaw=-3.141589
Dummy18_Pitch=-3.141588
Dummy18_Roll=0.000000
Dummy18_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy18_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy18_Component=Structure307
Dummy18|Dummy17=S0_pointDefense0.x
Dummy18|Dummy17_Scale=1.225000
Dummy18|Dummy17_Yaw=-3.141589
Dummy18|Dummy17_Pitch=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy17_Roll=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy17_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy17_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy17_Component=PDCombo
Dummy18|Dummy26=S0_pointDefense0.x
Dummy18|Dummy26_Scale=1.225000
Dummy18|Dummy26_Yaw=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy26_Pitch=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy26_Roll=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy26_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy26_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy18|Dummy26_Component=PDCombo
Dummy20=S0_Sensor0.x
Dummy20_Scale=1.200000
Dummy20_Yaw=-4.712380
Dummy20_Pitch=0.000000
Dummy20_Roll=0.000000
Dummy20_AnimationType=0.000000
Dummy20_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
Dummy20_Component=Sensors0
P0=S99_Structure156.x
P0_Scale=1.000000
P0_Yaw=0.000000
P0_Pitch=1.570789
P0_Roll=0.000000
P0_AnimationType=0.000000
P0_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
P0_Component=Structure156
W3=S0_PhotonTorp4.x
W3_Scale=0.575000
W3_Yaw=0.000000
W3_Pitch=0.000000
W3_Roll=0.000000
W3_AnimationType=0.000000
W3_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
W3_Component=PhotonTorpedo2
W4=S0_PhotonTorp4.x
W4_Scale=0.575000
W4_Yaw=0.000000
W4_Pitch=0.000000
W4_Roll=0.000000
W4_AnimationType=0.000000
W4_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
W4_Component=PhotonTorpedo2
W5=S0_PhotonTorp4.x
W5_Scale=0.575000
W5_Yaw=0.000000
W5_Pitch=0.000000
W5_Roll=0.000000
W5_AnimationType=0.000000
W5_AnimationSpeed=0.000000
W5_Component=PhotonTorpedo2

To get a model out of that, you would need a program to build the ship just like the gc2 game engine does and then export as an actual 3d model.  The best people to do that would be Stardock themselves.

Persionally, I think Stardock should make their own 3d modeling program based off of the gc2 shipyard.  Or sell an exporter for around $5.00 that would let a user export ships in many different formats.

You're not the only one. I can model myself, but it is very time consuming. Something like the GCII shipbuilder would save so much time.

I havn't tried modding sins myself, but I have considered it.  Having a ship editor like GCII's would help both people new to modding and those with experience.

For me to give $10-20, a ship editor for SINS would need the following:

- Ability to import custom pieces designed in a different editor(This would make what the editor could do almost limitless)

- Ability to combine pieces into custom ones .(This would help if the same pieces are used together often)

- Ability to place weapon/ability locations

- Ability to scale the model

- Having drawing tools to change the existing textureof the model would help push the price closer to $20

As it is, just having an exporter for GCII would be awesome and worth $5-10 on its own.

We should send them an e-mail!

That way were sure they read us +_+

Yeah... I wouldn't place bets on this one, guys

Any way you could hint out that would simplify and maybe make the whole modding process a little faster?

HELL YEAH!!!

We're customers let us use our great influencal stirngs and DEMAND a sins ship building engine (I'm even ready to up my price to 30$ SERIOUSLY) or we will tear this game apart with false critics! Just to make you guys look bad!

*please I'm on my knees lol!

XSI is a lot faster to model with than Max.  Also, all the artists on Sins knew XSI before hand.  That's why it was used.

There are plenty of ways to get the model from max into the game.