I use Turtlewax as well... If I can, I'll wash gently with Dawn, just get the Dawn on my fingertip and rub gently and rinse. Then go for the wax. Sometimes it is easier to wash and wax than to make the wax do all the work. That said, I'm always interested in trying a new method.
I used paste wax on this tank car because the paint was cracking and the Turtlewax was making a mess. I Scrubbed the crap out of it and then waxed what was left. This car was completely rusted from the inside out it was foil thin in some spots. I've never seen one so rusted on the inside yet decent on the outside.
This Lionel 2655 looked like rusty crap but cleaned up well enough to not repaint which was a problem, cause I wanted to repaint it!
