I've heard that low resistance resistors can be used as igniters.

Like this article.

Yeah, so can small incandescent lamps. For example take a small 6 or 12 volt lamp and break and remove the glass envelope. Apply a low voltage DC, lower than the lamp was originally rated for and the filament will glow. Take that same lamp and with it glowing at a low glow measure the applied voltage and current. Now expose the filament to an explosive gas like propane or natural gas. Note the applied voltage and current. Many explosive gas sniffers pass the sample over a low glow filament.

Ron

 

The rocket motor is typically a half inch to 3/4 inch diameter with a nozzle about the size of pencil lead (which is actually carbon now-a-days)

And actually, as a one time "Range Safety Officer" (fancy name for the guy who makes sure everyone stands at least 30 feet away from the rocket) nobody is going to be lighting a fuse under even a model rocket.

There's a show that airs every now and then called LDR (Large Dangerous Rockets). The show is about an hour long and they feature some really big home made hobbits rockets. I've seen outhouses launched, christmas trees, all kinds of stuff. Even saw a mannequin fly. They'll do a "MASS LAUNCH" to see how many they can make go at one time. These are often the store bought model rockets that fly on the half inch motors.

 

There's a show that airs every now and then called LDR (Large Dangerous Rockets).

LDRS (Large, Dangerous, Rocket Ships) is a meet where lots of LDRS's are launched. I have been to a couple of them when they were here in Colorado.
One year there was a group that was trying to launch a "R" size rocket. Never went off.

I did see the launch of a rocket that had a Super8 movie camera in it. The rocket did not land softly. When I saw the owner of the rocket with a somewhat battered camera I commented, "At least the camera survived". He replied, "I hope so, it cost me $10,000". When he saw my stunned look he added, "That is probably the total cost of going to rocket launches over the years".

Here is information on the next LDRS meet:
http://ldrs36.org/

 

Tonyr1084, that looks awfully complicated just to fire up a rocket. Maybe NASA would be interested. My thought would be to use a small oxy/gas torch on a stick. I guess one would need to hold it under the rocket.

You launch model rockets electrically from a distance. I filament is placed inside the engine that heats and ignites the engine. Doing it with a torch would be extremely foolish.