Anyone know if it's possible to paint the various ships in SC? I've just spent a large part of my life doing repaints of aircraft for Microsoft's Flight Simulator X and wouldn't like to leave that aspect behind. Painting space ships would be.....cool :D
From previous videos/postings from the RSI website I do not think we'll be able to do that initially in the way that you could in LFS/FSX. Given that the ships models are very high res and also have a system of 'wear & tear' which will alter their appearance as they get more space miles under their belt or with exposure to battle (new ships will look new, old battle-experienced ships will look old and battle-experienced), it's probably too much to ask to get done at game launch in 2015).
There has been discussion of limited customisation which would be available at the launch. This will probably amount to the ship's name and your organisation decal.
There are already some RSI-issued in-game skins (https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/add-ons) so it is clearly possible, but I do not think it is in the current WIP list. That having been said, they have talked about beefing up the mod side of the game strongly once the game is launched as Chris Roberts is a firm believer in giving the community modding powers. He has stated this as a primary reason people are still playing of his previously released games and wants SC to have that same modding community, so I think it will eventually come, just not immediately.
That's fine, it'll give my RSI (arf arf) time to heal. :D