"THE STINGER" ELITE RAYVEN CS-12

I've always wanted one of these...

 The bull- pup designed, flywheel driven RAYVEN might have been my favorite of the original N-STRIKE series except for that unique sickly pale green color that matched nothing else. But then in 2013 there was the quietly re-released exclusively available N-Strike Elite RAYVEN CS-12 STINGER version.

STINGER and one of the 25 special yellow darts it comes with

Lacking the heavy firefly tech clip (yet still capable of using it) but boasting elite ranges and even better being N-Strike yellow. It's true that now there's the blue Elite RAYVEN, but I've personally always preferred the original N-STRKE yellow. Good things come to those who wait and I finally got my hands on one of my own!
Here are some general basics on this blaster; It's a re-shell of the original RAYVEN but says CS-12 on the side instead of CS-18, the shell has also been re-tooled with the newer ELITE logo and motors also seem up graded to elite standards, despite

The box

being called, and packaged as the RAYVEN STINGER it does not say STINGER anywhere on the blaster itself, released in 2013 exclusively in the US and available only at Sam's Club or through Amazon, originally boxed with a 12 dart clip and 25 yellow elite darts, the STINGER was rumored to be a photo shopped hoax when news of it was first leaked to the Nerf community, and the STINGER never had an official announcement from Hasbro.

In my opinion this is how they should have made the RAVEN in the first place. Bringing this version out instead of the firefly tech version would have made it a legend pushing the STAMPEDE aside as the new king of the N-STRIKE fast high capacity long range primary blasters ushering in the new era of Elite fly wheel blasters.
So  I have this beautiful new RAYVEN STINGER that would make a fine addition to my N-STRIKE ARMORY  except it is an Elite (the only yellow elite). We had a similar/reverse situation with both the RAIDER and LONGSTRIKE... I think NERF does this color switch-up thing just to mess with us? I painted my RAIDER to match the rest of the series, and frankly the best thing about a LONGSTRIKE is that the barrel extension looks cool on some ELITE blasters and only matches color with the ELITE version RAYVEN... collect 'em all kids!    YOU   *_*  MUST

                
 

STINGER & older RAYVEN

 

Ranting aside, anyway you look at it this is one good looking well performing yellow blaster. The way the RAYVEN should have been first time around. Dressed up she is sleek and sexy, stripped down she is fast and fierce.  I am thrilled to add this one to my collection and picked it up for a good price just to make it that much sweeter.  Sexy, fast, a good price...I'm in love!   See more sexy pics of my STINGRER and other blasters in the CC&M GALLERY, and...

My STAMPEDE, STINGER, and RAIDER

 

                                      NERF ON NERFerS!!!