Across
Appreciating notes left after American's probed glass substitute? (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
MICA being a (sort of) glass substitute, insert US and add L for left.
Stink filling middle of dustbins is something in hand (5)
Army soldiers ousting one from concealed position (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
OR (soldiers) replaces the I in HIDE.
Bridge player, say, engaged in some work, producing unexpected feature (6,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
EAST (bridge player) EG (say) insert ERG (some work). I don’t quite see the unexpected aspect, I was expecting one and it arrived! EDIT I have now found it is in Collins, “Easter egg – a bonus or extra feature hidden inside a website, computer game, or DVD, that is only revealed after repeated or lengthy viewing or playing.”. As I don’t do video games or watch DVDs I was unaware of it. Obviously, the setter was more au fait.
Wet season securing island fruit (7)
Acquisitive King invading this territory's borders (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
R (king) inside THIS, TY (territory’s borders).
Major work getting OUP excited, investing in lots of champagne (6,4)
Obscure publicity material ignoring second book (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
BLURB drops its second B.
Reputation held by pair of Americans? (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I don’t see how this works. I think it is an error, supposed to be a hidden word but perhaps LatiN AMEricans was intended? Or perhaps the answer should be FAME not NAME, as FAME is hidden? There isn’t another hidden word clue and there is usually one. EDIT it seems, as was spotted below, that the setter knows what he is doing and I didn’t spot the correct parsing. I’d never seen the “indirect hidden word” trick before, apparently not used since 2007, so the AMERICA[N AME]RICAN idea wasn’t on my radar. I’ll be ready for it next time.
Rational to accept house standard? Try several places (4,6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SOUND = rational, insert HO (house) PAR (standard).
Hydrogen lost in explosion about to circulate in rod casing? (7)
Up-to-date tent, with electric current, mostly cool (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
TOP (big top, tent), I (current) CAL[M] = mostly cool.
Thin time acquiring Volume One's opening? Good luck as you go (3,6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
BONY (thin) AGE (time) with V, O[ne], inserted.
Control sword, switching hands (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
STEEL (sword) changes L for R.
Limits of truce probed by border topic (5)
Fine source of confusing statements but not primarily a cheat (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
F (fine) then RIDDLER loses its initial letter (I think).
Down
Observing vessel entering China (7)
Small and highly-regarded, though not right and not accurate (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
S (small), PRECIOUS (highly regarded) loses its R for right.
That fellow's blocking Civil Service game (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
HE’S (that fellow’s) inside CS (Civil service).
What may help you make slam or blast? (4,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I think this is best described as a double definition, one related to bridge and one meaning blast or trumpet.
Article poses timeless item for debate (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
THE (article) SITS (poses) losing its T (timeless).
University prepared to be stretched, having disposed of latest device (7)
Vehicle with problems? (5)
Fielder sees large number of people reduced after interval (5,3)
A second drink for the wife? (5,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
witty double definition.
Radio's studied later, after accident or crisis? (3,5)
Revision of poor plan's outputting new suggestion (8)
The writer with viewpoint promoting Liberal mix (7)
Relative harm after undressing in the dark (7)
Straight man mostly to halt rise of self-assertiveness (6)
Clothing is hot, to some extent (5)
Scots not great between banks of turbid river (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
WEE (small in Scottish) inside the outer letters (banks) of TurbiD.
Type letters or click words in the clue