No 12732, Tuesday 17 Sep 2019, Arden

Enroute to Washington DC, headed back to Bangalore. Next post from Bangalore.

ACROSS
1   Dark periods – start in opposite direction for tourist spots (6) SIGHTS (-n+s)SIGHTS
4   Tape to place in class (8) CASSETTE {CAS{SET}TE}
9   Idle one gets in tow regularly (6) LOUNGE {L(O)U(N)G(E)}
10 Arthur gets an arm around me in exchange (8) ARGUMENT {AR{GU{ME}N}T}
12 Painter has a head start over islander (8) TAHITIAN {T{A}{Head}ITIAN}
13 Movie called 'Country' (6) GREECE (~grease)

15 Record playing, too much delay makes one sad (12) DISCONSOLATE {DISC}{ON}{SO LATE}
18 Correct, let the wobble be seen as being unfair (5,3,4) BELOW THE BELT*
21 Sponge rings break in half, perhaps (6) LOOFAH {L{OO}FAH*}
22 Daughter finds a way to cut onion, as a rule (8) DOMINION {D}{O{M1}NION}
24 Crazy to combine drugs (8) CRACKPOT {CRACK}{POT}
25 Moped, half-heartedly for getting duck (6) SCOTER SCOoTER

26 No direct effect on Philosophy (8) DOCTRINE*
27 Sell by assuming different rate (6) BETRAY {B{RATE*}Y}

DOWN
1   Trouble outside, left inside for privacy (8) SOLITUDE {L} in {OUTSIDE}*
2   Huge cats prowling, not the most elegant (8) GAUCHEST*
3   Drunk guy left in the rear, runs – he must keep his balance (9,6) TIGHTROPE WALKER {TIGHT}{ROPE}{WA{L}KE}{R}
5   Line below central lawn is crooked (4) AWRY {lAWn}{RY}
6   For example 9 elect rich characters to take up an impossible task (6,3,6) SQUARE THE CIRCLE {SQUARE}{ELECT+RICH}*
7   Take a leak after a peg in tent (6) TEEPEE {PEE} after {TEE}

8   Fulfils initial expectation, leads to growing respect (6) ESTEEM {MEETS}{Ex...n}<=
11 Instrument will swell up, as small becomes twice as large (7) BASSOON {B{AS}{S}OON} (Addendum - BA(-ll+ss)SSOON - See comments)

14 Time to assume tail wagging means happiness (7) ELATION {E{TAIL*}ON}
16 In other words is termed as a coalescer (8) DEMISTER*
17 Fish will remain outside ring, perhaps (8) STINGRAY {ST{RING*}AY}
19 Quiet rise in medical practice (6) PLACID [T<=]
20 Pattern of a plant disease (6) MOSAIC [DD]
23 Said to be good in France, capital in Germany (4) BONN (~bon)

Reference List
Arm = GUN, Daughter = D, Way = M1, Left = L, Guy = ROPE, Runs = R, Line = Railway = RY, Peg = TEE, Small = S, Large = L

GRID