U need programs to open both kinds of files. BiniQDU or another similar program for .ini files and HardCMP opens .cmp files. As an alternative u can DL the FreelancerSDK for a complete set of alrdy decompressed .ini files. All those things can be found in the downloads section on this site.

OK. I'll take them one by one.

1) To add more guns to a ship, you need to do some modelling work. I'm afraid that's not my forte, someone else will have to advise you on this.

2) Increasing the cargo hold is easy. First, I'd advise you to download the SDK and install it. That will give you access to the ini files you need to edit. Now, go into Freelancer\DATA\SHIPS and open shiparch.ini. You'll now need to know the nickname of the ship you want to edit. I think there's a tool somewhere that has such listings, but I can't remember where. Anyway, scroll down to your ship's section and find the line:

hold_size = (number)

Just alter that to whatever you want et voila!

3) For an explanation of Freelancer's flight physics, you'd do well to check out this excellent thread.

4) Just above the hold_size line in shiparch.ini is a mass value for each ship. I wouldn't tinker with that until you've read that flight stats thread though.

Hope this helps

Thanks for posting guys. Well I thought I'd be happy just adding cargo space, I changed the Wraith in Rebalance Mod SHiparck.ini folder, changed cargo from 190 to 19000. Tried to open FL, it would crash immediately. I had to go back, change cargo to 190, and un-re-install the Mod before it would work again. Is this a Mod/personal problem or does this sometimes happen?