A couple of questions for a total newbie

[ant7]

I and a buddy are thinking about getting into Napoleonic gaming. I was thinking about the Brits or Austrians (saw the new plastics Victrix ones). Anyway I would like to do as much in plastic if I can, so.
I am thinking I can combine Perry and Victrix? Am I wrong?
I noticed the Perry's French Hussars states that you will be able to build some other "foreign regiments" from these also. Would I be able to make/use these as Austrians?
Thanks for any help.

[Cubster]

Victrix and Perry's will mix well enough, but they're not an exact match.

As regards uniforms and such, try this - http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Austrian_cavalry.htm

[carvel2]

Go Roman ; ) Less complex ...I think

[ant7]

Cubster- Thanks for the link! really nice.
Carvel- I am actually wainting on the Zulus and Brits but I just love the look of the Napoleonic minis. So well dressed.

[DOGGED]

As Cubster said, they're not an exact match in terms of build and expression, but close enough to be able to swap heads, arms and even equipment (although the backpacks are of different size). I)'ll highlight the answers to your questions and add some more info, trying to be of some help.
Victrix are more "expressive" or "cartoonish" in their face sculpts, depending on the point of view. They are also more prone to be used as skirmishers because of being more dynamic. That's important if you plan to ever play skirmish with them (Using the Sharp Practice rules i.e.).
Perry are perfect for formations and will also get cavalry one of these days.
Both British and Austrian will by this summer have plastic infantry, and both have metals of every kind (Front Rank for example).
British by now have plastic infantry, highlanders and rifles (you can buy rifles sprues from Perry), plastic arty (Victrix) and the Perrys long, long ago said that British light cavalry were "on the worktable" and that they were "the first of the plastic British cavalry sets". That was long before the Zouaves and these have been selling for a long while by now so the British horsemen should hit the shelves soon.
I'm not sure if French hussars may play as Austrian ones. I wouldn't get angry at it but the French hussars shabraque was a sheepskin one while the Austrian one was made of cloth.
So if you've not decided and won't by aesthetical reasons (i.e., you like the red or the white for the uniforms or you prefer helmets over stovepipe shakoes), here are two, conflicting, practical ones:
-British are cheaper; they have plastic infantry and artillery and soon will have plastic cavalry. Moreover they wouldn't field that much cavalry so you have a mainly infantry army you can complete with a few cavalry and horse arty metals.
-Austrians are easier to paint, being their uniforms white and more plain looking than British (with all that lace and trim). Facings are easier too (again, not that much lace).
-They both have nive variety. Austrians get grenzers and Hungarians as part of the main army and could field Brunswickers too, while British can field Spanish, Portugese, Hanoverians, Highlanders and foreign regiments.
Salut!

[NTM]

-Austrians are easier to paint, being their uniforms white and more plain looking than British (with all that lace and trim). Facings are easier too (again, not that much lace).
-They both have nive variety. Austrians get grenzers and Hungarians as part of the main army and could field Brunswickers too, while British can field Spanish, Portugese, Hanoverians, Highlanders and foreign regiments.
Salut!

Some people do struggle with painting white uniforms though, seems to cause a lot of angst.

Don't forget Landwehr and the various volunteer units the Austrians had too.

[mikeland]

Some people do struggle with painting white uniforms though, seems to cause a lot of angst.

Oh yeah! I gave up halfway through a box of Victrix French, look fantastic, but boy are they fiddly.

[adymac]

vtrix are nice but perry Brits and French plastic are ace and blend in well with their metals range which are just well splendid

[ant7]

Dogged- Thanks for the detailed repsonse, it really helps. I like the Austrians but the Brits are really nice also. I have a decision to make.

[DOGGED]

I almost forgot to say there's one more advantage for the British. You can change the tunic color to portrait American regular infantry (as per regulation, they dressed almost like the British, but in blue tunics) or certain Prussian reserve units (British equipped in a blue tunic). With a little (or maybe a lot) of work, you could also make Portugese or Spanish infantry (filing the buttonhole lace). In fact you can try to make a good bunch of Spanish units by mixing plastics, both French and British, and swapping heads (to use stovepipes and top hats, victrix has stovepipe shako and round hat heads for royal marines sprues as a separate reference).
Painting white uniforms can be eased by use of white priming spray. In fact such priming should ease wonderfully the painting of Austrian units and also shorten the time used for it in a good measure.
Last, you can go Imagi Nation. Then both Austrian and British have appeal, you can use French plastic hussars and cuirassiers with no trouble and choose the dragoons and others you might like. I'm in such a process and it's promising. I considered using French but British offer the chances already mentioned, and used with "real" British can proxy as allies...