New To List and PDP8 Question

Hello, I am new to this group but have been reading the posts occasionally before finally joining. The site comes up alot when searching for info on old machines. I am interested in any type of old computer especially the single board trainer types from the early days of the microprocessors. I have built my own trainer based on the Intel 4004/4040 and have started to put a web site together with pics and info. It is in the early stages though - http://home.earthlink.net/~bkotaska/mcs4_micro.htm . I have also started to build a PDP8 clone from the Harris/Intersil uPs. Still need to gen up a front panel for this one. A computer is just not a computer without some kind of built-in feedback mechanism. (I guess it just makes you feel like you are in control of the machine instead of the other way around.) Building the PDP8 has really piqued my interest in the real thing. I've collected bits and pieces for awhile now and have finally obtained a 4K core stack - although it is not in great shape (any help in locating a better one would be greatly appreciated). Anyway my question to you PDP8 folks out there is this - I have the following pieces: front panel, M8300, M8310, M8320, M8330, M837, M8650, G104, G227. I also have a 20 slot omnibus backplane from a PDP8a. My guess is that I should be able to see some action on the front panel with just the first four modules present (i.e. no memory). Am I correct? I don't care at first if I can't read or write to memory. I just want to check out some of the control functions with as little hardware as possible. By the way, my front panel has mostly light blue and dark blue switch handles. Anyone seen this before? Thanks all, Bill