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I recently acquired some pre-owned models off ebay, and they are painted... badly...
What is the best way to remove the paint? They are a mixture of metal and plastic.

I've used dettol in the past, I'm in the UK though, not sure what the equivalent would be in the US. But it works like a charm, soak it overnight then scrub off with and old toothbrush.

Dawn Power Dissolver. It doesn't have the problems with loathing water like Dettol does (and the smell, egad), and you can just heavily spray the model, put it in a container and leave it, and then take the paint off the next morning. (It's called Fairy Power Spray in the UK, and Dawn Power Dissolver in the US). However, I would be remiss not to link you to our very own How To Strip... article.

Super Clean is what you want. It is available in places like Wal-Mart in the automotive section. It is technically a degreaser and comes in a big purple jug for about $10 or so.
Put the minis in a plastic container and pour the Super Clean in and cover it, place it somewhere out of the reach of children and where it won't get knocked over and let it sit in there for at least over night. Longer is fine too... I've had stuff soaking for months and it came out fine.
After you have let it soak, use a stiff bristle brush and scrub the model. Do this over the sink and wear rubber gloves and safety glasses, this stuff is a pretty powerful chemical and it will burn your skin if exposed to it long enough.

thanks guys. youve given me some great suggestions.