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Gel coat is used primarily to ensure mouldings release. If you're doing your dash, you don't need to use gelcoat - just glass it, then use filler to take out the imperfections. That's what I've done with mine, and it seems to have worked pretty well.
It'll go off sufficiently in atmosphere without the wax, you might just have to wipe the very top with some acetone (though I've not needed to yet, as I've been deliberately using a bit too much catalyst).
A friend of mine used to work for Sunseeker powerboats, and is a dab hand with gel coat / polyester resin / glass.
He said for repairs (which is all I've been concerned with), you shouldn't use any wax (as it may adversely affect the colour), and use plenty (read excess) of catalyst to ensure enough heat is generated to make the gel coat go off.
Nowt fancy, just off the shelf filler from Halfords.
Yes you need to add catalyst. It'll be a peroxide catalyst (exact name I can't recall), I think (haven't got a bottle to hand) you should add about 6 drops per 10ml of gel.