Yep, Mike, Jetmech. One of the very first things I teach a new student is just that. Stand behind the plane and do exactly as you said. Deliberate movements to insure the control surfaces move in the right direction.

Oddly enough, my instructor, who drilled that very process in me way back when recently lost one because he didn't check.. just that one time, he didn't check. And, well, you can imagine the rest of the story.

CGr.