About twenty years ago I'd be thinking of hot knives in a very different way...must be a sign of age:)
Anyway would a decent hot knife be any good for model kits and sprue removal? I'm asking this due to the issue people are having with The Great War game and the Brits losing their bayonets.
Hmmm.
Hot knife? Can you share an example?
Personally I use these: http://www.amazon.com/MICRO-CUTTER-Trains-Modeling-Crafts/dp/B006ZBAWBU
If I need to get in close I actually cut further out on the sprue, then once it's off the stub of the sprue is much easier to cut.
I also use a set of Swiss files like these: http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-Instruments-S475-Pattern/dp/B00004T7WP
The Swiss files are good for filing off the remaining sprue as well as filing down the casting lines on a model.
Those should do you right. I've never used a hot knife, nor heard of using for for cutting sprues. Unless I'm mistaken, they're mostly employed to shape terrain from styrofoam blocks.
I've been told a pair of side cutters would be best as a hot knife may warp the actual mini.
Thanks for the info though Longblade will invest in a Swiss file I think aswell.