When first learning to taxi the airplane, I had the other pilot actually go out on the ramp one day and walk straight ahead from the wing gear so as to calibrate my eyes to some handy visual references from the inside structure of the cockpit.
Roadtrip,
This is an excellent idea and one I was shown when I first converted to widebodies as capt. I have always employed it when line training new capts, but as far as I'm aware I am the only one doing it in my company!
FWIW, with a turning bay at the rwy end McDD always recommended turning into the bay first before doing the 180, as one lost less line-up distance that way. I'm sure everyone has their own opinion on this one!!