Inquisitor 1221

[x_word_fan]

Anyone doing this?

I have all the letters a to o shaded. just x to find - do the cells that were already shaded have some significance?

[x_word_fan]

I now have x and I see the significance. Two possible ways to deal with x - don't think it will matter.

[Indy-trier]

Can anyone help? I've reached a sticking point so am convinced I've made a mistake with 6D, 21A or both! Any tips please?

[turnerjmw]

I had OUTS(TA)Y and (ET)ALONS

[Indy-trier]

Thanks Turnerjmw. So did I but I doubted 21A because I had convinced myself that 10D was "SLICE" (ie SPLICE with the last letter of O.A.P removed). Now to rethink 10D!

[turnerjmw]

ELOIN, I think. Veteran here means an old usage, so E (last to make) + LOIN

[Indy-trier]

That makes sense Turnerjmw. Now all my other potential answers fit so I've completed the last corner of the grid! Now to concentrate on that confusing preamble. . . .

[mullingar]

I have a nearly complete grid - though I can't figure the uncheked letter in 14 down and have no idea why coastal is the corrrect answer to 28 down I've tried to work on the unclued letters in the word play but can only get as far as spy and possibly poet. This looks reasonably promising but now I'm stuck. Any suggestions?

[Indy-trier]

I've settled on an N for the unchecked letter in 14D (as in the blue yonder) - but, knowing me I could be wrong.
26D starts as CASTALIAN - the sacred fountain bit, then IAN is ripped off and the letter not in the wordplay is "O".
I'm still struggling with the preamble. The letters in the setter's yellow shading (top of the grid) give me some cats. Does anyone know if this is significant?

[x_word_fan]

Re 14d it is YOU - that is "a" - "b" is 2 letters in the symmetrical slot. The yellow shaded letters are hints for "i" and "o"

c=g=j=n are all the same 3 letter article and all in rows. Happy to offer more help if needed.

[x_word_fan]

oops - hints for "k" and "o" was what I meant to say

[Indy-trier]

Thank you so much x_word_fan. Your hint made everything fall into place so I now have the correct words for letters 'a' to 'o' and I've also found 'x'. I'm now really struggling with the 'shade a to o' bit. Not sure whether to shade certain cells or the whole block of cells etc. Also I can't see what should leap out at me once the cells are shaded. I'm probably being very dim - but a tip about this would be greatly appreciated.

[rabet]

36D is puzzling me greatly; "Something that rings bell ~ parts repaired for sure! (6, 2 words)" I have ILL?ET, so ILL MET (as in "by moonlight, proud Titania") would fit, but how does that answer the clue? Any hints, please?

[snikwal]

Try I,ll bet for sure!

[rabet]

Thanks; I did consider that but couldn't find it in Chambers.

[x_word_fan]

Indy trier

Re x - I pondered and ended up hiding it ll (with black) - the fact you are writing it under the grid made me come to that conclusion.

[x_word_fan]

Sorry - just realised you were asking about a to o rather than x - I shaded them all as per instruction (v)

[Indy-trier]

Hi x_word_fan.
Yes - that's what I've done too - but I still can't see any meaningful words in the area I've shaded. Should I settle for that - or keep on looking?

[x_word_fan]

indy trier

Not sure what you mean - I shaded 15 words - a total of 47 cells before x was dealt with

[Indy-trier]

Doh! I have also shaded all the words and written x under the grid etc. For some daft reason I assumed that some extra shading was required between the word that was 'a' and the word that was 'o'!!! Now it's no 'x' that I have been totally stupid!