Thanks for the tip, I will look there and ask GeneralMatt. The problem is that the models I have are in a .MOD format and the only plugin made for them for max was 5 and lower. Nobody has ever updated the plugin for higher versions of Max and the plugin has been tried in Max 7 by Flamand, and no go.
So I need to keep Max 5 around to convert the models to .3DS format. Also, its not like I am creating these models, just trying desperately to get them into civ 4 format is all.

As you can see, they have beautiful textures already included with them and I feel they would look outstanding in the Final Frontier mod instead of the plain vanilla ships they have.

Cheers, Thorgrimm