Old Monogram decals...

So I'm in the process of building Monogram's old P-47 (the 1993 boxing), and the whole time I've been a bit worried about the kit decals. Turns out I was right to worry, but for different reasons.

I was afraid they'd fall apart on me, but they're surprisingly resilient. 

But there's something else. I figured I'd go ahead and decal up the prop last night, and the decals gave off this kind of milky white liquid. That, and they're thick. I pricked them with a scalpel after they'd cured a bit last night, hit them with Solvaset, etc, but they haven't laid down anywhere near as well as I'd have liked.

Anybody got any tips? I want to build this one using the kit markings (built the same kit 17 years ago, so it's a nostalgia thing), so AM decals are out. But I'm worried how these decals will do on the main airframe. That, and I'd like to melt the prop decals into the blades far better than they are...