No 11268, Wednesday 17 Dec 2014, Anon

ACROSS
1   Paintings made initially on mountain range (6) MURALS {Made}{URALS}
4   Blueprints are drawings? (6) DRAFTS [DD]
9   Inland letters from Caucasian (4) ASIA [T]
10 China’s mysterious pearl coins (10) PORCELAINS*
11 Skirt perhaps in good condition (6) KILTER {KILT}{ER}
12 Heave heartless bird into temple (8) PANTHEON {PANT}{HErON}
13 Take a dig at second-rate photograph (5,4) CHEAP SHOT [DD]
15 Deadly for the obese to return from Los Angeles (5) FATAL {FAT}{AL<=}
16 End of box almost covered by painting (5) ABORT {A{BOx}RT}
18 Army man slipped and fell (9) COLLAPSED {COL}{LAPSED}
22 Made chat with pita or Indian bread? (8) CHAPATTI {CHAT+PITA}*
23 Seizes first of grandmother’s files (6) GRASPS {Gr...r}{RASPS}
25 Melt one lab to make corrosion-resistant substance (5,5) NOBLE METAL*
26 Therefore, ruffians lose the first game (4) THUS THUgS
27 Hitler’s police captures former Wimbledon champion, belts him (6) SASHES {S{ASHE}S}
28 Presumed love, sighed (6) OPINED {O}{PINED}

DOWN
1   The saviour’s (Maradona’s) heir apparent is back? Ha! (7) MESSIAH {MESSI}{AH<=}
2   One sheltered from tirade is mirthful (5) RIANT {R{1}ANT}
3   Orchid, first two lilacs at European capital (7) LIPARIS {LIlacs}{PARIS}

5   Lamenting verdict that replaces first lady with European leader (6) RUEING RU(-l+e)EING
6   Superhero’s light is a photographic aid (5,4) FLASH LAMP {FLASH}{LAMP}
7   Zulu healer crooned with love for mother (7) SANGOMA{SANG}{O}{MA}

8   Typo costs girl, misleads decoders (13) CRYPTOLOGISTS*
14 A harvest sent up tower at Greek citadel (9) ACROPOLIS {A}{CROP}{OLIS<=}
17 Bee almost foots the profits (7) BEHOOFS {BEe}{HOOFS}
19 Run away from undergarment of fielder? (3,4) LEG SLIP {LEG} {SLIP}
20 Comment on the former currency (7) EXPOUND {EX}{POUND}
21 Block enclosure with most men who protect Indian leader (6) STYMIE {STY}{M{In...n}En}
24 Pursue activity even after loss of one (3,2) ACT ON {ACTiON}

GRID