Enigmatic Variations No. 745

[crofter]

This crossword was due in yesterday, but I am curious about some of my gaps.

36a Poor Bernard is not right as a trivet (8)
I believe this starts AR

16a Author to ascertain what Pascal had (6)
I believe this starts with V. It may be relevant to know that the setter was Radix.

6a Beetle could be off seeds, kind of (7)
I believe this ends with AN

[kayakamina]

36a Brandise.....Bernard+is - r = Trivet

[kettledrum]

16 a Pensee - pen / author, see / ascertain

[crofter]

Many many thanks K.
I thought I knew what was going on in the Down clues, but I now find that I have no b****y idea!
HELP!

[Quizmonkey]

Was this the speed one? I started moving down the alphabet taking each letter as a 5mph reduction - and it started working ok then went wrong. And I admit I gave up!

[crofter]

That's the one QM. I finally decided that the five speed limits corresponded to the five vowels, so a speed limit of [40] (say) meant if there is a vowel beyond E then change them to E's.

For 23d I have (G)ILL ARCH
and for 24d I have Z(E)BRASS (zb = zum beispiel)

ACROSS these I have 29a BLEARY
32a RASH
37a SCOPE (reduced to SCEPE)
39a SHIRRED

The hidden message looked something like
THE ANSWER IS TO GET THERE

[ulysses100]

Hi crofter,
Like QM I also gave up in the attempt. I solved many of the across answers which clashed with the down ones, but I managed to make real words , but could not work out the rationale.
Such that 6ac looked like caravan (keeping what might be behind you in view ! )
13ac answer is robin which became ? IC_NI
17ac done = dote
22ac nichrome = ??c??am?
26ac pipeclay = pineclad etc etc
Look like we'll have to wait until next weekend now for the answers !

[ulysses100]

.. and the hidden message I get is ???? to get speed !

[crofter]

ulysses How intriquing! I'll have to come back to you on this. MM analysis is calling!

[crofter]

ulysses You have thrown new light on this crossword for me. I'll be back to you on this. Could be in a day or two!

[Quizmonkey]

My message definitely ended in speed too - can't remember the rest though!

[crofter]

I have all the across answers (before the speed limits are imposed) with the exceptions of 1a (GLARY?), 6a & 15a. Can any one fill these gaps or needs some that I have?

PS This is my first attempt ever at this Crossword!

[dwil]

Full of admiration to people who finish this (I've done 3 in 20 years). There are occasions when I can't even understand the instructions.