Sean's Transfer attribute method has worked so far but need to do some proper tests with the rig to make sure! I've also UV mapped all my assets including the cave.
So now I have a whole week of texturing ahead of me which should be interesting!. I've tried to do my maps in a way that I feel will be easier for me to get my head around when it comes to painting, which mean making them as frontal and close to the shape of my model as possible.
pod seat and body
face and cave