1. To edit the game you will need a text editor e.g. Windows notepad but that program is rubbish so i recomend downloading notepad++ AND REMEMBER AFTER YOU HAVE CHANGE THE FILE SAVE IT THEN RELOAD YOUR GAME FILE FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT!!!
2. When you have successfully downloaded notepad++ and decied that you want to edit you save game i would advise you to create a backup of you saved game incase you have a mishap while file editing.
3. Ok a few simple ways to vamp up you saved game are
- Giving yourself money to do this open notepad++ then open you VS files what you are looking for is a file called SAVE mine is located in another folder designated 'vegastrike.' When you have found your save open it o the first line of text near the begining you will see some numbers e.g. ^13500^ delete these numbers and type in the amount of credtis you want on you saved game (a ten digit number should do) then save your work. Next time you load your game you should have the ammount of credits you typed between the ^^.
4. Getting that ship you have seen but either can't find or can't afford.
Ok star by loading up you game and buying 2 or 3 cheap ships a plowshare and a dodo should do should do the trick THEN SAVE YOUR GAME. Next open notepad++ find you saved game and open it, one the first line of text you will notice the names of the ships you just purchased you can then delete the names of thes ships and replace them with other ships (the names of ships can be found in the masterparts. Or a list of them in the units. file). Ships i found useful are:
-goddard (good firepower ok manuverability it' a bomber)
-tesla (exelend firepower poor manuverability and it' a Capship)
-tesla.template (exelend firepower poor manuverability and it' a Capship but has cloaking am better manuverabilty than the standard tesla it also seems not to have a bug with weapon slot one that the standard tesla seems to have)
-lancalott (ok firepower good manuverability it's a heavy fighter)
Of course it's you choice but i did find some bugs when i tried to get a ship called the Vitek (or something like that) And ever ship in the system i was in became one.
6. Easy cloaking to get a cloak easily save the game buy a cheap ship then replace it with a Clyvsdale.template sell the cloaking device from it then change ships and buy thr cloaking device bck and put it on the ship you desire.
5. WARNING you can't sell ships you have edited into your game (unless it's just a bg on mine) the only way to get rid of them is to delet them and their location in you saved game file.
I am new at this so and mistake i've made please point out
keep digging if you need a pointer on where to dig for something specific just post 
