The Sunday Crossword No 3025, Sunday 09 Dec 2018

ACROSS
1   Ineffectual type, king going into decline (4) DRIP {D{R}IP}
3   Mixed tapes, lucid copies (10) DUPLICATES*
9   Observed number bound to catch cold (7) NOTICED {NO}{TI{C}ED}
11 Time, attached to rope, to make descent (7) LINEAGE {LINE}{AGE}
12 Distinct cost about pretence and chicanery (5,8) SHARP PRACTICE {SHARP} {PR{ACT}ICE}
14 Major airline? So essential (5) BASIC {BA}{SIC}
15 Model car involved with publicity surrounding Spielberg film (9) ARCHETYPE {CAR*}{H{ET}YPE}
17 Lack of interest in vase around northern clubs formerly (9) UNCONCERN {U{N}{C}{ONCE}RN}
19 Son in trouble with English passage (5) AISLE {AI{S}L}{E}
21 Items broadcast after hesitation in time before Christmas commercial (13) ADVERTISEMENT {ADV{ER}{ITEMS*}ENT}
24 Witticism in record, one with good force (7) EPIGRAM {EP}{{1}{G}{RAM}
25 Call film about tango mystifying (7) CRYPTIC {CRY}{P{T}IC}
26 Terrible tedium is broken by one with line creating likeness (10) SIMILITUDE {TEDIUM+IS}* over {1}{L}
27 Not working on the house (4) FREE [T] [DD]

DOWN
1   Cheese and bun deli has prepared (6,4) DANISH BLUE*

2   One approaches overwhelming defeat, finally weeping (2,5) IN TEARS {1}{N{d...aT}EARS}
4   Less than regular parts of track we tackle (9) UNDERTAKE {UNDER}{TrAcK+wE}
5   Shrub that’s shown up in botanical illustration (5) LILAC [T<=]
6   Kindly captain initially just accepting team on merit (13) CONSIDERATE {Ca...n}{ON{SIDE}{RATE}LY}
7   Judge occupied by competition to make ornamental stonework (7) TRACERY {T{RACE}RY}

8   Democrat supporting witness in beginning (4) SEED {SEE}{D}
10 Vehicle expert upset during escapade on a large rocket launch site (4,9) CAPE CANAVERAL {CAP{VAN+ACE<=}ER{A}{L}
13 Referring to church with quiet story about candle’s first holder (10) RECEPTACLE {RE}{CE}{P}{TA{Ca...e}LE}
16 Certain deception very popular with December coming up (9) CONVINCED {CON}{V}{IN}{DEC<=}
18 Skull in opening of chiller set on an island possessed by spirit (7) CRANIUM {Ch...r}{R{AN}{I}UM}
20 Woman before reform not having a refuge (7) SHELTER {SHE}{aLTER}
22 Brief dispatch (5) REMIT [DD]
23 Street speaker’s source of inspiration (4) MEWS (~muse)

GRID