Spectator N0 2616 - Atomic Scorers By Doc

[Matakari]

Good day, I was growing to expect a smooth run through Doc,
but got stumped with three of his clues. Discovered the theme
quite early in the game, though the last three are still eluding me.
Help with the following would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

34a Almost finally having Midwest displayed in these? (7) : ??L?S?S
40a Diners chopped up a tree that is a little stunted (8) : ?UT?A?A?
31d Half of lesson leading Indian fairy (4) : P???

[roslyn251254]

atlas(t) + (w)ES(t).... middle of west

[JJ109]

34 mid "west" (2 letters) inside a 2 word phrase meaning finally = a certain type of book
40a definition diners = anagram of "a tree ie S(tunted)
31d A 6 letter word for a school lesson (sort of)halved + I(ndian) =a fairy

[roslyn251254]

40a Only the T is correct ...diners (not the people but the establishments) is the defn
31d ...ends in i (indian) so you should be able to find the fairy now...

[PiffPoff]

Struggling with last 2 themed. 1A D??N?N?I and 30D ?A?E. Can't find anything in Bradford's or Chambers that fit.

[PiffPoff]

Got them!

[Matakari]

Many thanks, Roslyn251254 and jj109, I got 34a but could not parse it
and my 38d, the last one, seems to be wrong. Perhaps I’ve got the wrong
name for 43a. Help would be appreciated here to put this one to rest:

38d Old Italian currency raised for caruncle (4) : ?RIR
( Something to do with LIRA…)

[PiffPoff]

Lira backwards [up] is Aril (caruncle)

[PiffPoff]

I can't parse 18A. White van going across Indian territory first (7). I have TRANS?T. Must be TRANSIT. Why?

[Neveracrossword]

PiffPoff,Trans= going across and then the first letters of Indian Territory. Transit, white van.

[Matakari]

Thanks, Piffpoff, my Unclued crosser for 43 threw
me off. It's done now and it was worth the effort, too!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakar, glad you (and AB) got this one finished, and that you thought it worth the effort.

I know you had an almighty struggle with EV 1600 - a puzzle many of us loved - and the blog is now available on fifteensquared. You often mention wanting to understand parsings better, the blog could be a great help.

[PiffPoff]

White van is transit? Okay. Didn't know that. Thanks!

[Neveracrossword]

PiffPoff, I think it's a very colloquial, slang word and- and I've just checked, it's not in Chambers.

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, for the blog, it's a real helpful treat.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. I often don't parse clues at the time, but I enjoy reading - and learning from - the blogs other solvers provide!

[PiffPoff]

Ah, thanks, Neveracrossword.

[PiffPoff]

29A Little boy at Orkney creek (3) G?O. Creek could be GEO or GIO. Parsing?

[roslyn251254]

geo is a creek ( orkneys/scotland) and geo is short for George

[PiffPoff]

Ahhh. Thanks.

[Pianoman2003]

6D Print of part of the landing-gear (4) seems to be OLE? And I can find a word that means the strut of an aircraft landing gear but why print?