Hey all, ive tried again given that i have been able to get a little bit of time up my sleeve.
pic 1: Canon 400D, ISO1600, 6 x 6sec exposures, stacked in DeepSkyStacker, processed in PaintShop Pro 11
pic 2: Canon 400D, ISO1600, 10 x 4sec exposures, stacked and processed as above
pic 3: Canon 400D, ISO800, 6 x 6sec exposures, stacked & processed as above
pic 4: Canon 400D, ISO1600, 300mm zoom, 6 x 4 sec exposures, stacked and processed as above
pic 5: Canon 400D, ISO800, 150mm zoom, 4 x 6 sec exposures, stacked/processed as above
pic 6: Canon 400D, ISO1600, 250mm zoom, 6 x 4 sec exposures, stacked/processed as above
Those are good ones, Benno, and you've given me some ideas on how to improve the images I'm taking with my 300D....but definitely I'd allow more exposure time.