Enigmatic Variations N0 1634 - The Magnificent Seven By Gaston

[Matakari]

Good evening, another Gaston offering that looks enticing to me except for the extra letters component. Help with the following would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!”

13a In Paris I skilfully mix grease with our metal polish ( 14, 2 words ) : ?L?RL??RSR????

14a Rue damage with a song ( 7 ) : U?SM??A

18a Fast-running Australian head honcho with help swallowing cold derivative of lactose ( 9, 2 words)
??EIS????

34a Stones enclosed in Asian food tin used by many ( 14, 2 words ) : ???G??C?E?????

5d Birds attempting to be surrounded by lots of ice ( 10 ) : ?????NG??S

11d Bud's expression of annoyance over genre of film ( 6 ) : T?R?O?

13d NYC gang members somehow tether wealthy type ( 9 ) : ??T??T??

Preamble:  Single-letter clashes occur in circled cells; reading in column order, picking one of the letters in each clash will spell out what THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN have in common; the other 14 letters should be entered in the cells. In each clue, the wordplay leads to the answer and a single extra letter; reading in clue order, these letters show how one would access one of the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN using the (appropriately positioned) circled letters. Its creator (4,8) should be written below the grid. One answer is an abbreviation. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, you have errors in 13, 14 and 18 A.

13 D. A famous New York gang, followed by an anagram ('somehow), remembering there will be a single extra letter.

 

I've just thought - the extra letters AND clashes make this very Matakari-unfriendly!

[Neveracrossword]

5 D. There's a five-letter word for sheets of ice, inside that there's a six-letter word for 'attempting' (remembering the extra letter... and remembering the clash at the first letter. Phew!)

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, I actually got 5d (Flamingoes ), but could not parse it. I see it now. What are the wrong letters in 13a ( ?L?RLL?RSR???? ), 14a ( U?SMA?A ), 18a ( M?EIS????)

[Matakari]

Yeah! I think I just got 13a which yields Jeweller's Rouge!

[JJ109]

34a Shingle (stones) - H(extra letter) = Single + enc(losed) (inside) Curry (Asian food) = Single Currency (tin/money used by  many)

[JJ109]

18a Mucic Acid (derivative of lactose) = (E)mu (fast running Australian/E being the extra letter) + CIC (Commander in Chief/head honcho) + aCid  (aid/help,swallowing C(old)

[JJ109]

14a Harmala (rue plant)  = harm (damage) (with) a la(y)(song - extra letter y)

[JJ109]

11d Turion (bud) = Tu(t)(exression of annoyance - extra letter t) + rion (noir/film genre over/reversed)

[JJ109]

13d you should get from Nac's excellent clue

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks for that, JJ.

Matakari, I hope you are faring much better after your rocky start! (Gaston has thwarted you before!)

 

[Matakari]

Many thanks, jj109 and NACW! I’m persevering to see if I can understand how Gaston’s mind works. Looks like a great hint, NACW, but still can’t find the gang after much googling. An answer, please! And Hints for the following to keep me going here. Thanks in advance!

36a Sassoon and Fleming, perhaps, from old island town ( 7 ) : ?D???S?

12d Shortly, boss is quitting oral treatment for scholarly group ( 9 ) : ?EUD????Y

25d Every chap climbing drain ( 5 ) : ?A?LA

27d Confer a degree on two earls leaving cells ( 5 ) : ???R?

[JJ109]

NY gang - think West Side Story + anagram tether -extra letter H

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari - the Jets... then Jetsetter. My generous hint should help you parse.

My hints seldom help you - as evidenced today! Here are some answers instead...

25 D. Nalla

12 D. Studentry

36 A. Idalian

I think you'll parse those OK.

I haven't given you info on clashes and extra letters - I'm hoping you'll manage that bit yourself! 

 

[JJ109]

27 Laureate (confer degree) - 2 earls = laurat

minus extra letter T = Laura = (monastic)cells

[Matakari]

Many thanks, JJ109 and NACW, for the useful hints and answers. I've got a better understanding of Gaston now.

[Neveracrossword]

Great, Matakari. Glad you're making progress. Remind yourself that you have tackled several Gaston puzzles before - your skills may return!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, if you're looking in again this afternoon... I bet you were delighted to see Doc's Spectator puzzle this morning?!

[Matakari]

Good evening, a very gentle Doc offering this week! I’ve got the celebrities easily enough and all the clues except one for which I seek a hint. Thanks a lot!

40 Spend a penny twice before chase for US trombonist ( 3,3,4 ) : ?E?W?EH???

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari - 'Gentle' is putting it very very mildly!

For 40 A, the first word is a slang word for urinate, the second word is another one (and as you have two of the three letters, you should get that!) the last word is simply another word meaning Chase, search. It can be a noun or a verb. The answer is a US trombonist

[Matakari]

Many thanks, NACW, I could not imagine a name like this for a trombonist. I’m trying now to see how my last three unclueds link up:
26a  DAVE
3d    BIK?R?
31d   ?I?ING