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There seems recently to be complete lack of posts on the EV. This could be because solvers are proceeding without difficulty, or maybe social distancing means limited access to newspapers. However, I am enjoying EV 1428 and have fully completed the bottom half. There I am stuck and wonder if anyone can help out. 1ac would be a good start -'Cranes spray railing badly, missing vague signal between inspectors' (13, two words). There may be an extra letter in the clue. Here's hoping!

Hi bigf, the definition is cranes. It's a subtractive anagram of (spray railing - signal) which contains an extra letter within a synonym of inspectors.

Cranes is the definition, the kind on a building site, not birds. Can you give a hint for 20dn please?

Hello,Bigf,

The definition in 1 A is Cranes - and not birds. There's some anagramming involved. If I remember correctly (not certain!) there's an extra A.

Hope this helps.

PS I found this quite a straightforward puzzle, maybe other solvers did too?

Teeniellek, the definition is the last word in the clue.

Hi teenieleek, the expert is not the usual 'ace' but 'able' I think. There is an old word for 'trip' in the answer. Still haven't got the cranes though.

teenieleek - the obscure synonym is for 't(r)ip' (the 'r' is extra) - def = 'free'/accessible.

bigf - ('labourers in an orchard', could be an alt def).

Thanks drxx, I've picked that up now!

Could anyone help with. 22 down?
Streams fights -=but not at first (4)
As far as I can see it has no extra letter and is ?AYS
thanks