Thanks for the info, Erico! I'm using Lightwave, despite my almost complete lack of familiarity with it, too, because it had the virtue of coming with the VT[4] I'm using.
I also found a fascinating article just minutes ago; I don't know where to post it, so I'll probably post it elsewhere, too. (Forgive me, Adminstrator, for I have inadvertantly spammed . . .)
Anyway, a very inexpensive way of scanning in 3D objects. Requirements: 1 laser pointer. 1 Webcam. 1 free chunk o' software.
http://www.cs.tu-bs.de/rob/david.html
Follow directions, stir well.