A. Find a mod you are interested in and download it(note if you have diplomacy the patch two days ago means most mods are out of date for the time being, though some mods should be back up to date in the coming weeks).

B. Extract that mod to the mod folder of the version you play, which can be found in the C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire. You should then have for example a folder called "Mod Name" in the [Mods-ExpansionName vX.XX] folder.

C. Go to the options from the main menu. Go to the mods tab and you should see the mod. Highlight it and hit enable, then apply changes. You should then be good to go.

Here's a nice how to link.

http://soase.weebly.com/placing-mods.html

Well considering Ironclad games itself is in Canada I would think you could get it somewhere. In the states even Walmart/Target have it, as well as more obvious places like BestBuy. Also since you already have Vanilla sins you could just get the Entrenchment and Diplomacy digital expansions, possibly for less. And you should definitely register you game with Impulse so you can get the latest patch, your game is at least 15 versions out of date.

Yup, the current version of Vanilla Sins is 1.191, and I think each major patch the number goes up by 0.01. Of course they might of jumped from 1.05 to 1.1, but regardless there are a lot of patches you've missed out on.

No, updates are completely free, but you'll need your serial number that came with the game (should be on the manual or box). If you lost it you maybe able to email support to get a new one.

I don't know about the extraction errors, but that particular mod seems to only be for the Diplomacy expansion, so you wouldn't be able to play it even if you extracted it correctly.

Lmao, its not often I get to beat the fox to the post. I have to enjoy it while I can.

That at least sames me a lot of trouble (now I must buy those expansions!). 

Ho hum, I can wait for awhile longer, but at least now I know I can update for free.

Thanks guys!