No 13179, Wednesday 24 Feb 2021, Arden

Solution to 3D  has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Hostile force made up story (6) FROSTY {F}{STORY*}

4   Bill backed by minister, it’s true (8) ACCURATE {AC}{CURATE}

10 Like to follow some Chinese — not about wearing it on one’s head (9) ASTRAKHAN {AS}{TRAcK}{HAN}

11 Ropes in volunteers — is allowed (5) SISAL [T]

12 Poles in characteristic passage (7) TRANSIT {TRA{N}{S}IT}

13 Placed on site before a country (7) ESTONIA {ON+SITE}*{A}

14 Song in right order, it delights cowboys (5) RODEO {R}{ODE}{O}

15 British girl initially sounds unsure getting some cover (8) UMBRELLA {BR}{ELLA}<=>{UM}

18 Two rivers overflow and ravage (8) DEFLOWER {DE{FLOW}E}{R}

20 Car’s old but sound (5) AUDIO {AUDI}{O}

23 Free morning break, assembled but lacking interest (7) UNTAMED {UNiT{AM}ED}

25 Not happy with name of bird (7) BITTERN {BITTER}{N}

26 Best spreadsheet? (5) EXCEL [DD]

27 One bang on a spot to raise some capital (9) ISLAMABAD {1}{SLAM}{A}{DAB<=}

28 Mark crosses over in a repartee (8) BADINAGE {BAD{IN}{A}GE}

29 Putting pressure on the alliance, that’s the custom (6) PRAXIS {PR}{AXIS}

DOWN

1   Cook’s got some coffee — a snow job? (8) FLATTERY {F{LATTE}RY}

2   It’s superficial, not in tie up (7) OUTWARD {OUT}{DRAW<=}

3   Sycophants perhaps saw some poisonous growth (9) T?A?S?O?L (Addendum - TOADSTOOL {TOADS}{TOOL} - See comments)

5   Possible to predict rubbery ooze in flower (14) CANTERBURYBELL {CAN}{TE{RUBBERY*}LL}

6   Not happy with rigid state at the top (5) UPSET {SET}<=>{UP}

7   Essential part — ways to come up with a magazine (7) ARSENAL {pARt}{LANES<=}

8   Travelling alone around India, by air in other words (6) EOLIAN {EOL{I}AN*}

9   Todd Huggins’ new avatar — a forced union (7,7) SHOTGUN WEDDING*

16 Metal ore’s processed to get chemical (9) ELASTOMER*

17 Donators can create lot of damage (8) TORNADOS* Semi&lit

19 Tempted, caught wearing tie finally (7) ENTICED {EN{TI{C}E}D}

21 Work on spar, it’s safe (7) DEEDBOX {DEED}{BOX}

22 Great European covers up (6) SUPERB {S{UP}ERB}

24 Could be musk — Musk supporting another musk at the top (5) MELON {ELON}<=>{Musk}

Reference List

Force = F, Bill = AC, About = C, Poles = N,S, Right = R, Order = O, British = BR, River = R, Old = O, Interest = I, Name = N, Pressure = PR, India = I, Caught = C