>> Now... all variables aside, I'd guess it would take on the order of 1-3
>> days for the kernel to compile on a MicroVAX II. I've not done it in a
>> while on such a machine, but it takes a certain amount of patience.
>
> DAYS?? 
> yow, that's slow!! 
> With local disks (RD54's for example) it should maybe take 6-8 hours, 

Are you doing a *kernel*  compile, or a full build of NetBSD as a whole 
(compilers, utilities, etc)??   I could see 6-8 hours for a kernel build.  
Haven't done a full build on an MVII yet, but I know on my Sparc 1+ it took 
something like 28 hours for a full OS build.  My 68K Mac SE/30 ('030/16Mhz) 
took around 36 hours I believe.  Just the kernel should be quite a bit 
quicker though.