hi if you have low frame rates , don't ditch the shield it provides bump protection & also buys you valuable time to RUN away when interdicted by pirate npc's
if you are trading , you can ditch the fuel scoop , time spent scooping is less time spent trading & you will make more credits per ton , than the fuel scoop will save you in fuel costs.
as the previous post said , ditch the discovery scanner
all interior modules apart from your shield & docking comp should be cargo holds ( make sure you get largest possible for each slot ).
you will have
2x (size 4 compartments) 16 ton cargo racks
2x (size 2 compartments) 4 ton cargo racks
40 ton cargo capacity , your docking computer & your shield for bump & gump protection ( RUN forest RUN )
that's a mighty nice start position & am guessing as kickstarter backer , you got core world area as starting point , so lots of good trading routes nearby
figure on humping metal from extraction world outposts to high tech world starports & returning with bio lichen if you can .. rinse & repeat as often as you have time
eventually as you build up a bigger credit balance , you should net 56k profit on a round/return trip .. tie it in with any easy trade missions from bulletin board that you are happy/confident to do localy & you are well on your way
as previous poster also said , 1st thing to upgrade is that frame shift drive .. (although idk what the ks cobra has fitted & you did not say) LONG RANGE may well mean it already got the "A" fitted
if not then that's what you eventually want to put in. bigger jump range , better fuel economy , more options for fast trade / carry missions . more options for hooking up a bigger wheel of potential trading ports
by "wheel" of trading ports .. I look for a high tech port & then try and find worlds "spoking" off from there to bounce between / around with missions ,
best to concentrate on ones for high tech & industrial starports that have shipyards & outfitters ... they usually carry the most kit & with friendly / allied reputation with them you get access to it
anyhow 40ton cargo cap & a shield & docking comp .. your all set , once you have best frameshift , upgrade your thrusters ... it may help with your flying problems , i'd also stick some shield boosters in the utility mounts
and again as the previous poster said , your trading not fighting , so np doing anything with weapons
if your still having fun trading when you hit 2 million credits , type 6 ship is your next stop.
type 6 with shield in a size 3 compartment & a docking comp. will give you 100 ton cargo cap.
biggest thing to remember is it's not like the 84 elite .. you CANNOT trade & fight in a cobra , you can trade OR fight ... and a fighting cobra has no cargo space.
bump & gump ..... RUN forest RUN