The potential value is that 3D scanning, for example with photogrammetry, will leverage your ability to paint a mini. Each figure that you paint can be scanned into a colour 3D file. You don't need to know how to paint the digital version (I know how to do that but wouldn't attempt it… ;-)). If HDFC is good and cost-effective enough, say compared to buying a whole army of figures and getting them painted by a professional painter, then you can print the whole army from the one-each set of minis that you painted up.
Here is a model of Fort Sedd-el-Bahr that I scratch-built for the landing at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915. It was made with plastic card and green stuff on a 3x3" MDF base, just to give you some idea of the scale:
Here is the same model converted into a digital 3D model using photogrammetry. I didn't need to touch the colours on the 3D model:
And here is a photo of the 3D printed version before HDFC:
This is what I will check with Shapeways, once I export the texture image with the 3D model file.
It would be possible to string multiple 6mm figure models together to increase the bounding box but it will be a bit easier to just use the fort model.
Robert
