One of my favorite rockets had 2 large fins, and the ends were flaps that were pulled by rubber bands.  When the engine was inserted tabs on the flaps touched the end of the rocket engine and it kept the flaps inline with the larger finst.....and when the ejection charge occurred the engine would pop out and the rubber bands would pull the flaps at an angle.  The rocket would then point nose down and spiral slowly as it came down, the large fins would keep the descent slow.  It was an easy rocket not to lose as it didn't float for a very long time.  I lived in an area with lots of woods and if the rocket took a long time coming down it was easy to lose in the trees.  We would cut big holes in the parachutes to help the rocket come down faster.