well the ring wont move. i be built like the second picture. this first picture is what it looks like befor and i opened it.

I know you said the rings won't move, but it is possible to create them as effects and make sure no ships run into them.  It's as simple as opening up the mesh file in text format and expanding the bounding box values to include an area that encompasses all of the rings.

As gruntmaster said, I don't believe there's a way to make particle effects susceptible to weapons fire.  That be a deal-breaker for me.  SivCorp's idea for adding to the mesh by upgrades is great, though.

you just have the core as the default mesh, the first ring and core as the first upgrade mesh, the second,first & core as the second upgrade mesh,the third,second,first & core as the third upgrade mesh and fourth,third,second,first & core for the last upgrade mesh, and it is possible for up to 9 levels of upgrade to weapons,hull & shields, and you could add a new mesh with every second hull/shield upgrade or weapon upgrade in summary you have several meshes of the starbase in the stages of upgrading that you want.

harpo

A station with rings orbiting around it sounds like a good idea just make it vasari and say the rings are "phased out" of normal space because if they were hit by a weapon they would detonate, then give it a detonate ability.

I cant solve your lack of knowing, because I also lack knowing.

all I can say is try to find a tutorial read it and learn.

(there is no good learning to convert model to sins\explaining texture and uv map tutorial that i have found)