How the $%*! am I supposed to fix this?

DoogsATX

I tried fighting with them a little this morning before saying screw it. Got 90% of them off by soaking the plane in warm water. Still have a lot of residue that simply will not come up, though. Any ideas? Would putting Micro Set on it help me wipe it off? I'm prepared to wet sand and repaint the upper surfaces if I have to, but I'd really, really rather not if I can avoid it.

Before you sand, try to get the remnants up using some tacky masking tape.  Stick it on, burnish thioroughly and peel.  Since it doesn't look like the decals stuck well to begin with, the tape may just pull off what's left.

Don

Id go ahead and lay a few thick layers of decal solvant/solution on them to see if it hurts.  I havent had decal problems before just because of that reason, I think.  I lay down a thick coat ontop of the gloss, then a thick coat ontop of the decal, then another after its dried.

but then I might just be insane

If you are prepared to re-do the paintjob then there will be no harm in ytrying everything under the sun to get the residue off, as you plan on stripping it as a last resort anyway...

Thanks all. 

To answer a few questions - I did gloss the model first with Testors gloss lacquer (airbrushed). In hindsight I probably should have done a second coat. I used Micro Set to lay the decals down, and Solvaset after. I'm chalking the chaos up to old decals. 

I tried fighting with them a little this morning before saying screw it. Got 90% of them off by soaking the plane in warm water. Still have a lot of residue that simply will not come up, though. Any ideas? Would putting Micro Set on it help me wipe it off? I'm prepared to wet sand and repaint the upper surfaces if I have to, but I'd really, really rather not if I can avoid it.

Wow...I'm guessing you didn't gloss the model first, then I'm guessing you used no decal solvent on them---is that correct?

Old decals? Looks like the glue is bad on them. They laid down when wet, but once they dried there was nothing to hold them.

 You might be able to glue 'em down with Future, but getting it under them would be a pain.  Maybe a small brush and soak it really good, kinda squeezing it in there by rubbing the top of the decal. then put a good thick coat on top with a large soft brush.

 If it were me, I'd pull them off and replace them with new ones in better condition. They will probably come right off with a little tape.

Oh that's UGLY!!!!

 I have never had any luck trying to use micro-set after things have dried. I have had a few decals peel up over time. For these, I diluted clear/white glue, about 50/50 with water. It looks like you have enough "open" edges that you could dip your brush in the glue mix and feed it in around the edges, maybe squish it around a bit to get even coverage, then try some micro-sol. For the larger solid markings (insignia and letters) you could lightly cut around the outside of the marking and remove the clear film. I ALWAYS cut off the extra clear areas of decals before they ever see water.

Did you gloss before decaling?

Yikes, Doogs,, that is quite the mess,, for sure.

The finish looks very flat but I am guessing you did lay down a gloss before applying the decals....

I am not sure that they are salvagable to be honest. I mean if it were a little area here or there, maybe,,, but this looks full blown.

[If it were me] I would be removing and starting over with aftermarket.

Best of luck with it...

Bill