Listener 4106 A Change of Clothing by Elgin

[Ruthrobin]

A step up in difficulty here. We've floundered our way to a complete grid with crime fighters, an item of clothing and a set of villains, though I am not sure which one is the appropriate one to highlight. This one has been the most difficult for us for some time.

[starwalker]

As soon as I saw the word Elgin, my heart sank. I still have memories of Asylag. This, on the other hand has proved to be more straightforward, though with some difficult clues.
Now, all I need to do is get the highlighting correct.

[daagg]

I have just come up with a plausible end game - slightly odd, but it all makes sense (even the title). All great fun really.

[daagg]

PS There are some excellent &lit clues in this one.

[Zabadak]

I didn't think this was all that tricky, right up to the end game. My item of clothing has at least three variant spellings, all of which create proper words with all but one of the crossing clues. And I've yet to spot the plausible end game of which daagg speaks. I think I'll rest on it for a bit.

[Zabadak]

I should perhaps make it clear that it's the same crossing clue in each case.

[midazolam]

A tricky finish this, after a rapid start. Will have to sleep on a couple of the false trails.

[JackDeCrow]

Yes, thought this one was shaping up to be relatively easy, but the endgame takes a remarkable leap in an unexpected direction. If it's possible to crack that without recourse to the internet, then someone has some very specialist reference books! What an imagination from Elgin, though - made me laugh out loud at the end!

[daagg]

Hmm, JdC - I'm not sure I needed the Internet to sort out the endgame (although I did use it during my flailing round, and to resolve some of the normal clues). Assuming you have a basic knowledge of the theme, I think Chambers and the preamble have all you need.

[Zabadak]

OK, so I see a way of eliminating all but the most common clothing spelling (though I'm still troubled by one of the crossing words which is not in any reference I can find). I've also located a third and very apposite crime fighter which gives me the most obvious villain, opposed by all three, or is my third crime fighter actually the villain, given his connection with the false trails? And has anyone noticed that playing variations with the clothing entry and its originals very nearly spells my third crime fighter's partner? I'm logging on to confuseddotcom

[daagg]

Zab, that non-word is a problem, isn't it!

[dr b]

Well, I have not even printed the puzzle yet, and not likely to, given the stack of exams that I need to grade by Monday. Do try to carry on in my absence!

[Zabadak]

Quite, daagg. To add to the mix, it's just wrong. I wondered if that was the point?

[AHearer]

A delight. Several clues that made me smile, and a real chuckle at the end-game. Thank you, Elgin.

[trux]

Way behind you early birds ... still struggling with many clues ... perhaps a first pointer (which won't be of any consequence to the end-game, mefears) - am I right to put in the very obvious in 6A ? And, if so, please explain the wordplay involved in the "on time" bit ? Am off to Asia in several hours - which clearly won't be enough - but don't fancy staring at this all the 13 hours out there !

[trux]

forget it - penny dropped - I thought "marine" was the definition ... but now I see the blinding light ... drrrrrh.

[aldana]

I have the grid nearly completed, have spotted some words which might be relevant and am now totally at a loss as to where to go. However, unlike my friend drb (who enlightened me as to the meaning of pdm) I am now retired, have no papers to grade - or even, being English, exams to mark - so can give it a rest and return at intervals over the weekend and wait in hope for a pdm.

[Antmark]

Seem to have the relevant crime fighters and item of clothing but the adjusted 32 acc answer doesn't seem to be a real word. Am I missing something?

[starwalker]

A wonderful ending (when I finally twigged). A broad grin and a smug look, once I have finished kicking myself for being so slow.

[kwyjibo]

Twigged what is going on now. I thought it would be a breeze at first, seemed to be racing through the clues. It is all justified in the end, except for 32ac - which I can't find anywhere.

[tilbee]

Completing the grid fairly straightforward, but like some still struggling to justify the non-word for one of the answers when entering the item of clothing. Also still need to determine the villain,