Bolt Action French Army 2026: New Plastic Infantry & Armies of France Explained

The French are getting a major update for Bolt Action: Third Edition. Warlord Games has revealed Armies of France: Third Edition alongside new plastic kits and a new all-plastic French starter army, making this an excellent time to start or expand a French force.

The biggest change is the arrival of a dedicated French army book. Rather than concentrating only on the fighting of 1939–40, Armies of France supports three major ways to build a French force: the French Army of 1939–40, the Vichy Armistice Army, and Free French forces.

The miniature range is expanding at the same time with new plastic French Foreign Legion infantry, heavy weapons, artillery, and the Hold the Line! starter army.

Interested in building a force? Browse our Bolt Action collection for miniatures, armies, vehicles, books, and accessories.

Quick Summary: What's New for Bolt Action France?

• Armies of France: Third Edition: A dedicated Bolt Action army book covering multiple French forces.
• Three Army Lists: Build forces representing 1939–40 France, the Vichy Armistice Army, or the Free French.
• French Foreign Legion: A new 30-model plastic infantry platoon aimed at Free French forces in North Africa.
• Plastic Heavy Weapons: New French weapon teams including machine gun and mortar options.
• Plastic Artillery: The famous French 75 joins the plastic range.
• Hold the Line! Starter Army: A new all-plastic force focused on French infantry and supporting firepower.

Armies of France: Third Edition Explained

Armies of France: Third Edition is the dedicated army book for French forces in the current edition of Bolt Action.

The book provides the rules and unit options required to build French armies while also providing historical background, artwork, photography, and inspiration for modelling a French collection.

Most importantly, the book isn't limited to one period of France's involvement in the Second World War.

French Army 1939–40

The early-war French Army is probably the version most players immediately associate with Bolt Action France.

This is the force for players interested in the Battle of France, with French infantry supported by artillery, machine guns, mortars, anti-tank weapons, and distinctive French armour.

Models such as the Char B1 bis and Somua S35 also give the army some of the most recognizable early-war tanks available to Bolt Action players.

Vichy French

The Vichy Armistice Army provides another direction for a French collection and allows players to explore conflicts beyond the familiar 1940 campaign.

For historical gamers, this significantly broadens the range of campaigns and opponents that can be represented with French miniatures.

Free French

Free French forces allow players to continue their French collection beyond the fall of France and into later campaigns fought alongside the Allies.

This is also where one of the most interesting new plastic releases enters the range: the French Foreign Legion.

New Plastic French Foreign Legion Infantry

One of the headline releases accompanying Armies of France is the new French Foreign Legion Platoon.

The plastic set contains 30 infantry models representing Foreign Legion troops fighting with the Free French in North Africa.

The miniatures reflect the unusual equipment available to these formations, combining British-supplied uniforms with French weaponry. The sprues also include additional components and the famous white kepi associated with the Foreign Legion.

For players who want something visually different from a standard European infantry force, the Foreign Legion opens up an excellent North African theme.

New French Plastic Heavy Weapons

Another important addition is the move toward plastic support weapons.

The new French heavy weapons set provides options for some of the support teams commonly found behind an infantry force.

Weapon options include:

• Hotchkiss M1914 medium machine gun
• Medium mortar
• Light mortar options

Warlord designed the accompanying crew components to work with the existing plastic French infantry range, while parts can also be combined with the new Foreign Legion plastics.

That compatibility should provide hobbyists with considerably more freedom when assembling weapon crews and adding variation throughout an army.

The French 75 Goes Plastic

The famous Canon de 75 modèle 1897—better known as the French 75—is also receiving a plastic kit.

The 75mm gun is one of the most recognizable pieces of French artillery from the era. Originally developed before the First World War, it remained an important part of French artillery forces into the Second World War.

The plastic kit includes multiple wheel options, giving hobbyists additional modelling possibilities.

For anyone building an infantry-heavy early-war French army, artillery is also an excellent visual fit with the defensive character many players associate with the faction.

Hold the Line! – New French Starter Army

The new Hold the Line! French Starter Army is particularly interesting because it takes a different approach from many starter forces.

Instead of building the box around a large vehicle component, Warlord has designed it around a substantial infantry core backed by support weapons and artillery.

The force is themed around a French defensive formation during 1939–40.

For a new player, that means the starter provides the foundation for an army that immediately feels distinctly French rather than simply providing a generic mixture of infantry and armour.

What Makes a French Bolt Action Army Interesting?

France offers something different from many of the armies commonly seen in Second World War miniature gaming.

The faction has access to distinctive infantry, artillery, support weapons, and some instantly recognizable armoured vehicles.

There is also considerably more variety than simply recreating the Battle of France.

With Armies of France supporting early-war, Vichy, and Free French forces, a French collection can represent several different periods and theatres.

Building an Early-War French Army

If the Battle of France is what interests you, the existing plastic French infantry remains an important foundation for the army.

The kit can be used to represent several troop types, including regular infantry, fortress troops, chasseurs à pied, engineers, and colonial troops.

From there, you can add support weapons and artillery before deciding how heavily you want to invest in armour.

French Tanks Worth Considering

Two of the most recognizable choices are the Char B1 bis and Somua S35.

The Char B1 bis provides an unmistakable centrepiece for an early-war army, while the Somua S35 gives French commanders another historically important armoured option.

Players interested in a strongly themed 1940 force can combine these vehicles with infantry, artillery, and support teams to create a very recognizable French army.

Building a Free French Army

The new Foreign Legion plastics make Free French forces particularly appealing for hobbyists interested in North Africa.

The mixture of British-supplied clothing and French equipment also gives these miniatures a distinctive appearance compared with many conventional Second World War armies.

For painters, North African forces offer plenty of opportunities for weathering, dusty uniforms, desert bases, and sun-bleached colours.

The result can be an army that looks dramatically different from forces based around the green fields and ruined towns of northwestern Europe.

Is the French Army Good for New Bolt Action Players?

France is worth considering if you want a force that combines historical variety with a growing plastic miniature range.

The new Hold the Line! starter makes the entry point particularly straightforward because it establishes an infantry-heavy army with supporting weapons in one package.

From there, players can expand in several directions.

You could add tanks for an early-war force, increase your artillery and support weapons, explore colonial units, or move toward Free French and Foreign Legion formations.

What Should Existing French Players Buy?

Existing French collectors have several obvious ways to expand.

Armies of France: Third Edition is the central release because it provides the updated dedicated army rules.

After that, the new plastic artillery and heavy weapons are useful additions for players who already own substantial infantry collections.

The Foreign Legion set offers something different again, particularly if you want to begin a Free French force rather than simply expanding an existing 1940 army.

A Major Expansion for Bolt Action France

The important part of the 2026 French release isn't any single miniature kit. It is that the faction is receiving a much broader update at once.

A dedicated Third Edition army book gives French commanders updated options, while the new plastics expand areas of the range that previously relied more heavily on other materials.

The ability to build 1939–40 French, Vichy, and Free French armies also gives players several distinct historical directions from the same overall faction.

Whether you want to defend France in 1940, field Foreign Legionnaires in North Africa, or build a later Free French force, the expanded range provides considerably more options for starting and developing a French collection.

Shop Bolt Action Miniatures

If the new French releases have you thinking about starting another army, browse our Bolt Action collection for miniatures, starter armies, vehicles, army books, and accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Bolt Action French Army