Acebird,
If you haven't done an inspection before there are videos and slideshows on the Internet (YouTube, my blog, other websites devoted to beekeeping) that will show you how it's done. I think Brushy Mountain has a whole series of helpful videos.
Sounds like you are trying to visualize something in your head that you could see a movie or slideshow about and save yourself the energy of trying to make it up.
Linda T in Atlanta