oh!  that does sort of make sense to me.  CAD always sounds both specialized and more like actually working with vector tools in 3d (never really researched because i'm mainly into organic stuff).  well, i'd think Max would have shrinkwrapping and a retopo equivalent.  and i'm sure there's a way to make the output from CAD more poly efficient. 

you know what i'd do?  if this ship started in a CAD program, i'd check out arch vis sites to see how they handle the conversion to obj.  i'd bet there are specific tricks and such.  it seems like a lot of arch vis is designed in a CAD program but rendered in max with vray.