Cryptic crossword No 1,178

Nice to see this combo back for, presumably, the return leg? I suspect I know who designed the grid, this time! I'd note it is a tricky grid with quite a few lights having less than half their letters checked which did make it harder. Faves include 16a, 18a, 28a, 31a, 6d, 7d, 15d, 27d and 30d. Thanks both. PM

Quite the construction! Spoilers overleaf

My goodness that was a tricky one fellas, not helped by being laid up in bed with a stinker of a cold, but it was well worth the effort - thanks for a most satisfying and interesting puzzle! My favourites were 1a (neat), 5a (smooth and satisfyingly gettable for a nho), 9a (clean), 16a (nice assembly and cool def), 22a (fun), 32a (nice surface), 4a (fun), 6d (likewise), 13d (neat), 15d (clean), 25d (neat) and 27d (lovely) - top stuff!

Really, you just need to copy Bees's two comments here and you'll have my own solving experience down to a tee - sure, my brain was shouting something at me after 15d, but I needed 19d to make me listen to it! Both of those go on my shortlist, alongside 16a, 28a, 32a, 6d & 27d. Thanks for both the puzzle and the recommendation to tackle it in the first place! (...if you're like "but I didn't recommend this to them", uh, no, you didn't, but you did! *cough*)