So i downloaded a bunch of ship and added all the files to the right file locations but i cant see any of them in game. what am i doing wrong?

I can only give you an alternative to adding single ships, by downloading complete mods like the Star Trek vs. Star Wars mod or Millenium Project. You can find download links in the thread called: Community Content

For a solution about your exact problem, I would recommend you ask around either at https://www.armadafleetcommand.com or on the community Discord (https://discord.gg/cMEAPCv). There you can find some active modders, who can help you with the problem.

Well IF you had added everything right the Ships would be there and saying "a bunch of ships" doesnt help

1. What Ships ?
2. Do the Ship Files come with an alterd Shipyard.odf and AI so you can build them and the AI will build them ?

A Little Tour for Armada Ships:

A : There is the Ship itself the sod file with the Graphics and maybe the Buildbutton and the wireframe graphics
B: The ODF Files for the Ship and the Weapon
C: The ODF File for the Shipyard and an alterd AI and TT file that the Computer builds

So some Ships are only have A in it other A + B or A,B,C and there are some with A + B and explained in the Readme how to do the C part yourself

Also 90% of any Mods only affect Multiplayer / Skirmish or even worse destroy the SIngleplayer Campaign

Also if you would have an A/B/C Downlaod of the Ships the C Part from the Second Ship would overwrite the C part from the First Ship

So without knowing what you downloaded I cant give anmore help

But you can google for Armada Fleet Command and check the Tutorial Section for how add a Ship or if you want a complete overview The Tutorial "Book" Westworlds Big Book of Modding