Filling Station: by HEX, in WSJ, 02/27/21

[ChrisKochmanski]

If you like an engrossing variety cryptic, head straight to this latest bit of wizardry from Cox and Rathvon. I had a very satisfying meta-like aha in the course of solving this one. Maybe more like two or three such ahas. Good one!

[Jace54]

I finished the grid and the 20A answer without understanding the instructions. Obviously missing some final step or process.

[RPardoe]

Agreed - stumbled along feeling lost. Then AHA and had much more confidence on the path to a full solve.

[RPardoe]

I finished the grid and the 20A answer without understanding the instructions. Obviously missing some final step or process.

Did you fill in all the blanks? With confidence?
Get the "AHA", I (and I suspect Chris) got, and you will have no doubt on the blanks.

[Meg]

Halfway through and still waiting for the AHA moment, but that’s OK.
Now done and finally saw what I needed to see. Very nice HEX as always.

[Jace54]

Did you fill in all the blanks? With confidence?
Get the "AHA", I (and I suspect Chris) got, and you will have no doubt on the blanks.

I filled in some blanks but only sure of a couple. Seems like many possibilities fit, but that is certainly because I do not understand the last sentence of the instructions.

[Jace54]

Okay, figured it out now. Didn’t really enjoy the process, but the final reveal on the central entry was clever.

[SewYoung]

I finished the grid and the 20A answer without understanding the instructions. Obviously missing some final step or process.

Me too. I finally filled the grid. Don't know what goes in the blanks or how they fit the instruction. Maybe it will be more clear in the morning after I sleep on it.

[Jacksull]

I really look forward to these variety cryptics.

This one makes you appreciate the genius of HEX as cryptic clue writers.

[Richard B.]

I finished the grid and the 20A answer without understanding the instructions. Obviously missing some final step or process.

Did you fill in all the blanks? With confidence?
Get the "AHA", I (and I suspect Chris) got, and you will have no doubt on the blanks.

So like others I got the grid and the central entry. Went to watch a hockey game. Came back and (what else is new) immediately saw the final layers to a very satisfying solve. C&R, you guys are the best!

Question for anyone who has entirely completed the puzzle (PM me): what did you put in the blank for 15a? And what portion of the grid entry does this correspond to? I think the word that fills in the blank leaves me an “a” short in my grid entry.

Edit: Got it. Thanks for the PM.

[BethA]

Got phase 1 (grid) in record time for me, by 6pm yesterday, while keeping one eye on the Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball! Just now getting the blanks in the clues, maybe 80% or so. Enough that I’ll feel good saying that I’ve solved this one.

Will keep working to get to 100%, but I think I need to print a fresh sheet!

Edit: It’s 5pm Saturday and I’m giving myself a 100%! The fresh sheet and reworking everything helped a lot.

[Jeanrosz]

Finished grid and most blanks but not making any sense yet.. #34 blank has me stumped but I put something in the grid that works..

[Beth Tyrpin]

Challenging to say the least. All done. Whew.

[Annabelle]

This was fun because we solvers got to write some clues! Fun insight into the process! It would be fun to compare what words people used to fill in the empty spaces, maybe after next weekend when the grid fill at least will be posted? I think there could be more than one word that would work in some of the clues.

[Homer Buckle]

Great idea Annabelle. I had many possible fills for several of the empty spaces, and I bet others have some really creative ones!

[BarbaraK]

I needed help to figure out what to do after I had the grid filled. It all fits together nicely now.

I can't really imagine that there's more than one way to fill things in that ties it all up and accounts for everything.

[RPardoe]

I can't really imagine that there's more than one way to fill things in that ties it all up and accounts for everything.

I agree.

[Richard B.]

Here’s a link which includes the answers to the puzzle.
https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/docu ... 062021.pdf

[Al Sisti]

Here’s a link which includes the answers to the puzzle.
https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/docu ... 062021.pdf

They're amazing.

[Beth Tyrpin]

It was that pesky word “panel” that helped me find the fillers.