Hard Case solution
by Kegler
As indicated by the central entry, METAL PLATING, seven answers get “coated” with
the chemical symbol for a metal to become a new word before entry into the grid.
The added letters
are highlighted in the grid. The seven metals used are chromium (10A), platinum (24A),
iron (42A), silver (15D), lead (20D), tin (25D), and gold (34D).
Across
| 1 | SA(C)K (ASK anag) |
| 4 | O,W + NGOALS (SLOGAN anag) |
| 10 | CL(ASS)IER |
| 12 | WHO + A |
| 14 | CH + ELA (ALE rev) |
| 16 | RU(PE)E |
| 17 | SEtABED (rev) |
| 19 | AMP (MAP anag) |
| 21 | LIFT (hidden) |
| 22 | B + ASH |
| 23 | BIO (1st letters) |
| 24 | PLU(SHE)StT |
| 26 | METAL PLATING |
| 27 | P(H)EASANT |
| 29 | NOD (rev) |
| 31 | isSUES |
| 32 | INTO (TONI anag) |
| 33 | GAY (odd letters) |
| 35 | T,E + RED + O |
| 36 | TRAD + E (rev) |
| 38 | BO(I)SE |
| 40 | F + LAW |
| 41 | NORSE + ME + N (SENOR anag) |
| 42 | FO + REGONE (GONER anag) |
| 43 | D(O)UG |
|
Down
| 1 | SCAR + A + B |
| 2 | AL(B)UM |
| 3 | CA(R)P |
| 5 | WICK + I + UPS |
| 6 | GRE + ET |
| 7 | OWL (hidden) |
| 8 | LO(WE)ST |
| 9 | SANDH + OG (HANDS anag; GO rev) |
| 11 | S(H)ELL |
| 13 | BEL PAESE (PALE BEES anag) |
| 15 | ABAth + SING |
| 18 | ABE + TTORS (TORTS anag) |
| 20 | POT + HERB (TO rev) |
| 25 | SfLATTERN |
| 26 | MAS + TIFF |
| 27 | PU(E)B + LO |
| 28 | N(O)TES (NEST anag) |
| 30 | DY(E)ING (DINGY anag) |
| 32 | I + DING |
| 34 | ADIEtU |
| 37 | A + MM + O |
| 39 | pOWEr |
|