>    I'm trying to set up a cross compiler for a vax-netbsd target
>    on a i586-linux host but have run into a few problems.
>    [I've sucessfully built gcc cross compilers for other machines]
> 
>    I'm not sure I'm building from the correct sources.
>    The cross-linker is the only thing not working, any help/pointers would
be 
>    appreciated. 

Hop over to the Linux-VAX homepage at http://linux-vax.sourceforge.net/
The development environment they use is basically cross-compilation
on x86 and their stuff produces bootable images. Seeing how they
got it to work may help you.

Antonio