The NX Refit was intended to be used in the next season but the series was cancelled before that happened. I would have liked to have seen it appear as the ship was repaired after the Xindi arc- that would have been a great opportunity to add more 'cowbell' to the ship.
I do not believe this is true. Doug designed a ship that could have a section swapped out. But I have never heard producers say that they were going to do that.
1st even if a writer, or even head writer wanted to. IT would mean having to have completely new ship shots, no recycled footage. Braga wanted to have some damage on Voyager throughout his tenure, but even with a larger audience and no fear of cancellation, they weren't going to stop using recycled footage.
They only time I could see Rick ever accepting the expense is if it happened in the last episode. Say at the end where you see the ship get a remodel, and have a shot to two. It certainly wouldn't be done on a long term basis.
Next point, even if I am wrong and Manny decided great idea, and took it to Rick and Rick said yeah lets spend the money. What Doug created would very likely not be the final approved design. Hero ships have always had significant changes versus the design created by the art department.
There is no way that Doug's final design would be the design approved by Manny and then by Rick. Not as a hero ship. Never.
i mean look at Doug's redesigned DS9, do you honestly believe Ira and then Rick would agree with that design?
