Reddit mentions of Tamiya America, Inc Craft Cotton Swab, Triangle Medium 50 pc, TAM87107

You may want to consider switching to a hobby grade cotton swab. The fibers are more tightly wound which adds precision to your clean-up. I use Tamiya brand, they have three different head shapes and sizes though I most often use the Triangle Medium (pointed tip) which allows me to get in nice and close for super fine lines. Here’s an amazon link to my specific choice:
Tamiya America, Inc Craft Cotton Swab, Triangle Medium 50 pc, TAM87107 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026IBC3S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_a5a3DbGPK3051

small - http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0026IBC3I/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1371298889&sr=8-6

medium - http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0026IBC3S/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1371298889&sr=8-7

bulk (not japanese brand) - http://www.sears.com/stanley-872-pc-dbl-swab-cotton-tip-50/p-SPM7528968110?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4&PDP_REDIRECT=false&s_tnt=41486:3:0

you don't have to if you're applying it to unpainted pieces., but a good acrylic gloss coat (i.e. using Future/Pledge or similar) can help it go on even easier. The gloss coat will also help protect the plastic from the enamel and thinner.

If the piece that you're lining is particularly thin or in a high-stress area you might want to go ahead and give it a quick gloss coat, otherwise I don't think it's really necessary.

If you're applying it to painted pieces, you'll want to coat them with an acrylic gloss first, or you'll likely have issues getting an even application.

The amount used for panel lining is so small that I don't usually bother with a gloss coat unless I've painted the piece first.

For clean up I love the Tamiya hobby cotton swabs in small and medium

They hold up a lot better than your typical q-tip style cotton swab and are easy to dampen without getting them too wet. I generally just dip the tip in the thinner and let it soak up a little (happens really quick) and then rub a little off on a paper towel.

The bottles for the Tamiya accent also last forever. I've done 2 PG kits, 7-8 MG's and a 1/100 Barbatos with the black and I still have more than half of the bottle left.

Amazon has the Tamiya ones :
https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-Cotton-Triangle-Medium-TAM87107/dp/B0026IBC3S/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1499541597&sr=8-5&keywords=tamiya+craft+cotton+swabs
The Tamiya ones are expensive compared to any of the other precision qtips
https://www.amazon.com/Fran-Wilson-Nail-Applicators-Count/dp/B00015GWQU/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499541753&sr=8-2&keywords=precision+cotton+swabs

They are all still cotton. I still can't find a sponge ended one. I might be imagining that is what I saw.

The Silicon Shaper Brushes are kind of cool. Not sure what I could use them for. But it is always good to know something exist.