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Hi, you need to erase the 64 letters in 'plane figure' i. e. triangle, east of the two points. You then erase the one letter (T) in the bottom-left corner That will leave you with a single large triangle with the apex points missing ('clipped').... Hope this helps.

I used to think that Listener Numericals were anathema, but now puzzles where you solve all the clues, put the answers in the grid… and then have to delete half of them or more before spending an eternity grid-staring whilst gradually losing the will to live… AARRRGH!!

I started to write a plea for clarification/hints on a whole raft of items, but it got to be embarrassing.

Several people have posted that finding one of the thematic names was the way in to cracking the endgame. I've tried and tried and still no joy.

muraria (#99) gave a hint, but are we talking about the external periphery (as opposed to the internal periphery, i.e. around the central blank area)? And clockwise or anticlockwise?

(Sorry to be so pathetic, but I'm trying to avoid my other half reminding me that I have a life outside crosswords...)

Hi jif73, it's the external periphery and it's clockwise. The three blank cells form part of the periphery: one of the thematic names starts in the blank cell in the Eastern side of the triangle, 7 letters in all, the other two are 6 and 11 letters long. And remember, you have to look just at alternate cells, the ones touching at corners as per the preamble.

One last thing. I believe I have found two of the words of equal length on two sides of the 'plane' but where is the third relating to fruit and what is the point of these items anyway? Is it just to make up the numbers?

The words were the key (for me in any case) to identifying the three interlocking shapes. They are all n letters long with the first letter at one end of the shape, the second at its elbow and the third at the other end.
I got sidetracked looking for pea, axe, awl, cot and a few others before finding hoe - then the others became obvious because of the symmetry.
Brilliant puzzle.

muraria, you are a wonderful human being! I have found the wikipedia page that tells/shows me all I need to know.

It is a very impressive endgame, but I still think that the setter's name should have the first two letters increased by 4 and 8 respectively.

(If you're perusing this thread, Poat, just kidding!)

You're welcome jif73, glad you got there....... I think we all spent far too much time grid-staring at this one but worth it in the end I reckon.

Thank you Smithsax. That tidies it up nicely.
And emphasises the visual dimension too.

Progressing - but very slowly! I think I have erased the correct "planes" of 64, 16 and 1 letter.

Now have what looks like a Company logo - but probably isn't. I have two "rows" around the central hole but cannot make any sense of alternate letters. I can see a three letter 'definition' (ers?) but not the other two. Who are these thematic names? I just need some kind person to give me just one word that I can Google to see my way through this fog. Thanks.

The best known of the three is at the bottom and runs west, if I remember correctly...see my post 119.