Where are those big windows on the Enterprise model on the set?

Probably came down to budgetary constraints. the Main shuttle bay would have required a huge set which for the amount of use wouldn't have been cost effective.

Add extra smaller shuttlebays to model, build a smaller set (or being able to redress one and money saved.

 

It really makes you think - why put such a thing on the ship if they could never hope to realize it?

 

Sometimes you get luck, other times you have to find away.

The story goes the scenes set in Engineering in Encounter At Farpoint were written to ensure the set got built as Roddenberry had a concern if it wasn't built at the start it would never be.

 

In a certain manner of speaking, Ed Miarecki "realized" a model of the main shuttlebay for "Cause and Effect": http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Main_shuttlebay

The shuttlebays on the VFX model had different sizes. I think part of the strategy may have been that studio stage-wise they knew they were going to have to start with a small shuttlebay but hoped that eventually they would be able to explore the bigger ones, too.

Bob

 

Oh, they could easily have shown the main shuttlebay had there been any will to do so. That's what matte paintings are for.

 

Technically speaking they did. The background during the shuttle take-off is the main shuttlebay.

 

^^^Yeah, if you count one small section of wall as "seeing".

 

The big windows cover several decks, I don't see a problem with them. It doesn't have to be one window-one room. Also, each room would probably have its own gravity generator, hence, you could technically adjust the room so that windows are on top or side! Fans think like Enterprise is on Earth with gravity pulling everyone down at 9.8m/s/s...

As for the saucer deflector, I think that it was a good call. Mr. Probert wanted way too many lounges IMO; he said Ent was supposed to be like an ocean liner.

A Starship like that would have double and triple-redundant systems (as is stated in the manual). It only makes sense that there would be a backup for something like deflector dish. I
In fact, I think it's canon that the navigational deflector is called "Main navigational deflector", indicating other(s).

 

I had a look at the Sternbach blue print, and the dont show the big long windows on the lower part of the saucer either:
http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/blueprints/star-trek-the-next-generation-enterprise-sheet-8.jpg
http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/blueprints/star-trek-the-next-generation-enterprise-sheet-9.jpg

The only way to explain them is pretty much, that they are floor windows where people can walk on and see through.