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Can anyone explain the preamble more clearly to me today?

Yes, it's a bit impenetrable - I just about grasp it but have to keep reading it again.
This might help though.
The wordplay for 28 produces a nine letter word. Remove a three letter word from this leaves you with a six letter word to go in the grid. But a crossing down entry means you have to change a letter in the across entry.
The three letter word you had to take away is the 'key' word.

...I didn't want to try to explain, so am glad Nelson stepped in! Once you have either/both of the key words, try putting them in front of your Across answers/possibilities you have for answers.
This was really good fun.

does the "key word" always go in front?

That is a big help, Nelson. Thank you. I don't think I have got the six 'down' redundant words yet. I have four, at 6, 9, 18, 26 - are these right? Also, is 12a one of the words falling into the six 'across' category?

Xwordfan, yes - the word's always at the beginning.

Jogamel, I'll have a look at my grid to check your numbers...

Jogamel, 12 A is one of the affected words.

In the Downs, your 6 and 9 are definitely correct - I don't think the other two are (but I haven't got time to read through the clues again!)

Jogamel, the extra words are in 4, 6, 9, 21, 29 and 31.

I twigged what was going on with this and agree with Malone that it's a fun puzzle.
However, the preamble is a bit awkward. Think it should say something like: one letter in each of the six solutions (without keyword) is altered to form a new word for grid entry, with the six letters replaced, in clue order, forming the two three-letter keywords ? Not easy to explain but the examples given make it confusing to my mind.

Thanks all of you. 12a I cannot parse or solve at all if anyone wants to help without giving their answers away.

Have got it now thank you so much. Even 12a. Unsure of 38a but working the old brain cells later - if I can't see the link I will be back....